William C. Boers
Agency patch
Patrolman

William C. Boers

Cincinnati Police Department — Cincinnati, OH
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch April 16, 1917
Age 45
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Badge 394
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman William Boers was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man wanted for beating his wife at a home on 834 West Fourth Street. The woman had requested police protection, and Patrolman Boers volunteered for the duty because he knew the husband and believed he could help calm the situation. As Patrolman Boers and the woman approached the home, the man appeared in the doorway and shot Patrolman Boers in the abdomen. Despite being mortally wounded, Patrolman Boers returned fire and chased the subject into the home. The man jumped from a second-floor window and broke his ankle. He was taken into custody by another officer in Webb Alley behind the home. The 30-year-old subject was apprehended and sentenced to 20 years. He was paroled on November 15, 1930, with the condition that he never drink again. Six months later, Cincinnati police responded to a disturbance at a brothel where he was found to be intoxicated, and he slapped the policeman who arrested him. He could have been sent back to prison but instead got 30 days in jail. Patrolman Boers was an Ohio National Guard veteran and had served with the Cincinnati Police Division for 20 years. He was survived by his wife, son, and two daughters. He is buried in Walnut Hill Cemetery, Walnut Hills, Ohio.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Boers gave the Cincinnati Police Department 20 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cincinnati community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH
Platform Identity cincpd.hamilton.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 16, 1917
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Age 45
Badge Number 394
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Military Service

William C. Boers served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1917, 165 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 45. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. William had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Cincinnati Police Department has 106 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman William C. Boers

Cincinnati Police Department · End of Watch April 16, 1917

Military Service

William C. Boers served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.

Visit William C. Boers’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 46-W

Also Remembered

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