Peter Davison

Cincinnati Police Department — Cincinnati, OH

Felonious

End of Watch June 25, 1849

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

The Vigil Panel 1 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 105

Incident

Constable Peter Davison was stabbed on June 18th, 1849 by a man at Van Amburg's Circus who had been ordered to move away from the performance ring. The man refused and another officer physically moved him back approximately 10 feet. The subject became upset and attempted to draw a large bowie knife but was tackled by the officer. As Constable Davison came to the officer's aid the man was able to stab both of them. Constable Davison died on June 25th, 1849, at a home on Seventh Street. Constable Dalzell lingered near death for many weeks, but recovered. The subject was put on trial for murder and found not guilty by reason of self defense.

Survivors

Constable Davison was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-767B7A94
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

177 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Constable Davison gave the Cincinnati Police Department 8 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

Department Cincinnati Police Department

Location Cincinnati, OH

Platform Identity cincpd.hamilton.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 25, 1849

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

Offender Acquitted

Constable Peter Davison 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.

Cincinnati Police Department

of 106 officers

59.4% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious