Roll of Honor
Harley Leroy Kinnear
Incident
Location: Ohio Incident Date: Thursday, July 11, 1946 Weapon: Handgun; .38 caliber Offender: Executed in 1948
Detective Harley Kinnear succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous night when he was shot while interrupting the burglary of a boxcar in Cleveland, Ohio.
He encountered three men breaking into a boxcar at E. 68th Street and Colfax Road and ordered them to approach them. As they did so one of the men suddenly drew a .38 caliber revolver and shot him in the spine. He was taken to a local hospital where he died the following night.
All three men were arrested in Little Rock, Arkansas, and extradited back to Cleveland. All three were sentenced to death for a second murder committed in Cleveland and subsequently executed in 1948.
Detective Kinnear was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII and had served with the New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad Police Department for one year.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and 8-month-old daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-B73287A3- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Harley. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
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.
Detective Kinnear gave the New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Harley Leroy Kinnear served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Detective Harley Leroy Kinnear 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 New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad Police Department, 4 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Harley Leroy Kinnear's cause is highlighted.
How Harley Leroy Kinnear Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1948
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Harley Leroy Kinnear is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Harley Leroy Kinnear was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
