Walter E. Rauch
Agency patch
Patrolman

Walter E. Rauch

Dayton Police Department — Dayton, OH
Felonious
End of Watch December 25, 1927
Age 41
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Badge 63
The Vigil Panel 54 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Walter Rauch was shot and killed while searching the area for two subjects who had robbed three people on Christmas Eve and early Christmas morning. Patrolman Rauch went to 229-241 East First Street, a location known as a thug hangout, and his body was found shortly afterward. It is believed that he may have surprised the suspects and was shot by them. The shooter was never apprehended. Patrolman Rauch had served with the Dayton Police Department for six years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-384B7BD0
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Rauch gave the Dayton Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Dayton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Rauch.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Dayton, Montgomery County, OH
Platform Identity dpd.montgomery.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 25, 1927
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 41
Badge Number 63
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Patrolman Walter E. Rauch 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 Dayton Police Department, 18 of 31 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.1% of this agency's fallen.

Dayton Police Department
18
of 31 officers
58.1% 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 E. Rauch's cause is highlighted.

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

How Walter E. Rauch Compares

Age at Death
41
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
6
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Walter E. Rauch is highlighted in Dec.

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 E. Rauch was killed by gun.

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

Incident Location