Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Walter Francis was accidentally shot and killed while searching for armed robbery suspects at 81 Independence Avenue (modern-day Matthews Drive) in Lincoln Heights. When Deputy Francis and other officers were searching for an armed suspect he went to remove his shotgun from the trunk of the patrol car when it discharged. The blast struck him in the abdomen, killing him instantly. Deputy Francis had served with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office for three months and previously served with the Cincinnati Police Department for seven years.
Survivors
He was survived by his brother and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-C4B35F52- 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 Francis gave the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cincinnati community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Francis.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Walter Leslie Francis is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In OH, 318 of 991 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 13 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Walter Leslie Francis's cause is highlighted.
How Walter Leslie Francis Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Walter Leslie Francis is highlighted in May.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Hamilton County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
