Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Abraham Bird was shot and killed when he attempted to remove a subject from the vestibule of the Jockleys Circus. The Patrolman was called to the incident by the manager of the circus due to the man's threats toward a performer, who was his wife. After finding the subject, Patrolman Bird and another officer tried to escort him out when the subject pulled away, took a pistol from his right rear pants pocket, and fired at them. Neither officer was armed (firearms would not be approved for another 14 years), and both turned away from the shot. The bullet went through Patrolman Bird’s left arm and into his chest, through both lungs and the aorta at the top of his heart. The subject then kicked the other officer three or four times in the back and ran out. A groom came out of the stable and immediately went to Officer Bird and found him already dead. The suspect was found and arrested by several officers nearby. On April 2, 1875, he was convicted of murder in the second degree and given a Life sentence. Patrolman Bird had served with the Cincinnati Police Department for seven years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-B0C1D1E3- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
152 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Substitute Patrolman Bird gave the Cincinnati Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cincinnati community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Substitute Patrolman Abraham Bird is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Cincinnati Police Department, 63 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Abraham Bird's cause is highlighted.
How Abraham Bird Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Abraham Bird is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Abraham Bird was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
105 officers from Cincinnati Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
