Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Sonny Kim was shot and killed after responding to a 911 call at a home near the intersection of Roe Street, and Whetsel Avenue at approximately 9:30 am. The caller stated a man was walking on the sidewalk at that location with a gun in his waistband and acting belligerent.
Officer Kim was the first officer to arrive at the location and was approached by the subject, who made the 911 call. The man immediately opened fire on Officer Kim, wounding him. He then struggled with Officer Kim and disarmed him.
The man then used Officer Kim's gun to shoot at a Hamilton County probation officer and a second Cincinnati police officer who responded to the scene. The second officer returned fire, fatally wounding the subject. Responding officers performed CPR on Officer Kim until medics arrived and transported him to the hospital. He succumbed to his wounds a short time later.
It was later determined that the subject had intended to commit suicide by cop.
Officer Kim had served with the Cincinnati Police Department for 27 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-E69C0F4A- 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
27 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer Kim gave the Cincinnati Police Department 27 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Cincinnati community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Kim.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Sonny Lee Kim 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%.
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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Sonny Lee Kim's cause is highlighted.
How Sonny Lee Kim Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Sonny Lee Kim is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Sonny Lee Kim was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
105 officers from Cincinnati Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
