Edward Butler

Cleveland Division of Police — Cleveland, OH

Felonious

End of Watch November 3, 1929

Age 29

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

The Vigil Panel 58 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 118

Incident

Detective Edward Butler succumbed to a gunshot wound received the previous day when he and two other detectives responded to a report on Quincy Avenue from a woman who was scared her husband would kill her for leaving him. When they arrived at the location, they observed the man leaning against a post. Once they began to search him, he produced a revolver, pushed the officers aside, and tried to run into a shop. Detective Butler chased the man into the shop, exchanged shots, and was struck. One of the other detectives shot and killed the suspect. Detective Butler was taken to a local hospital, where he died the next day after surgery. The suspect was wanted at the time for murdering his previous wife and girlfriend. Detective Butler had served with the Cleveland Division of Police for five years and previously served with the City of Shaker Heights for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and 20-month-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-1678FE2F
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Butler gave the Cleveland Division of Police 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Butler.

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

Agency

Department Cleveland Division of Police

Location Cleveland, OH

Platform Identity cdpd.cuyahoga.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 3, 1929

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 29

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Offender Shot and killed

Detective Edward Butler 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 Cleveland Division of Police, 83 of 119 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.7% of this agency's fallen.

Cleveland Division of Police

of 119 officers

69.7% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious