Walter Chapman
Agency patch
Patrolman

Walter Chapman

Cleveland Division of Police — Cleveland, OH
Felonious
End of Watch August 22, 1911
Age 58
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
The Vigil Panel 25 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Chapman was shot and killed while protecting garment workers from strikers. While patrolling in Decatur Alley, he was ambushed and shot through the back, killing him instantly. The shooter was never identified. Patrolman Chapman had served with the Cleveland Division of Police for 25 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-1F9585DB
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

25 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Chapman gave the Cleveland Division of Police 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Chapman.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Other
Location Cleveland, OH
Platform Identity cdpd.cuyahoga.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 22, 1911
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
Age 58
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Patrolman Walter Chapman 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 Cleveland Division of Police, 83 of 119 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.7% of this agency's fallen.

Cleveland Division of Police
83
of 119 officers
69.7% Felonious
OH — Statewide
572
of 991 officers
57.7% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Walter Chapman's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Walter Chapman Compares

Age at Death
58
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
25
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Walter Chapman is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Walter Chapman was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location