Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Phillip Pence was stabbed to death by an inmate while conducting searches of cells for weapons at the Community Correctional Institution (current-day Hamilton County River City Correctional Center) at 3220 Colerain Avenue in Camp Washington. He was stabbed as he entered the cell by the suspect, who had warned officers earlier that he would kill the next person to come into his cell. Deputy Pence was stabbed in the chest with a shank fashioned from a metal bucket handle. The suspect was sentenced to death and executed on June 8th, 2004. Deputy Pence had served with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-AFC98272- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Pence gave the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cincinnati community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Pence.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Phillip J. Pence 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 Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, 6 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 46.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Phillip J. Pence's cause is highlighted.
How Phillip J. Pence Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 2004
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Phillip J. Pence is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Phillip J. Pence was killed by edged weapon; shank.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Hamilton County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
