Roll of Honor
Incident
Watchman Osborne was stabbed to death while on foot patrol with another watchman on Superior Street Hill.
An intoxicated man approached the two from behind and stabbed Watchman Osborne in the neck without being provoked. The other watchman clubbed the suspect and took him into custody. Watchman Osborne succumbed to his wounds three days later.
The man was sentenced to death by hanging in June 1854.
He was survived by his wife.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-6FC76042- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
173 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Watchman Osborne served with the Cleveland Marshal's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Watchman John Osborne is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 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 57.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Osborne's cause is highlighted.
How John Osborne Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Osborne is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Osborne was killed by edged weapon.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Cleveland Marshal's Office are honored on badge.nw.