Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Michael Hahnel was shot and killed while transporting two men to jail. He and another officer had stopped a car for speeding at Moreland Boulevard and Lee Road and placed the two men under arrest. Unbeknownst to the officers, the two men were driving a stolen car and had just robbed a gas station. Patrolman Hahnel was riding in the backseat of their car, which was being driven to the police station when one of the occupants suddenly turned and shot him. The two then threw his body into a field on Ashwood Road, near East 140th Street, and fled. Patrolman Hahnel succumbed to his wounds four days later. One of the suspects was executed for Patrolman Hahnel's murder on April 24, 1925. The other suspect was sentenced to life. Patrolman Hahnel had served with the Shaker Heights Police Department for one year. He was survived by his father and seven siblings. He is buried in St Mary's Cemetery, Cleveland, Ohio.
Survivors
He was survived by his father and seven siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-FAFC1192- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Patrolman Hahnel gave the Shaker Heights Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Shaker Heights community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Hahnel.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Michael J. Hahnel 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 97,756 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%.
At Shaker Heights Police Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael J. Hahnel's cause is highlighted.
How Michael J. Hahnel Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael J. Hahnel is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Michael J. Hahnel was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Shaker Heights Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
