William Albert Bather Jr.

Toledo Police Department — Toledo, OH

Felonious

End of Watch May 28, 1919

Age 33

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 37 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 31

Incident

Patrolman William Bather succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous night while attempting to arrest three men he suspected of being in possession of a stolen car. He had observed the men trying to start the car at the intersection of Emerald Avenue and Field Avenue. One of the men shot him as he began to question them. All three men fled the scene on foot. Patrolman Bather was taken to St. Vincent's Hospital, where he died the following day. Patrolman Bather had served with the Toledo Police Department for two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-3EA33466
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 Bather gave the Toledo Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Toledo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Bather.

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

Agency

Department Toledo Police Department

Type Other

Location Toledo, Lucas County, OH

Platform Identity tpd.lucas.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 28, 1919

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Patrolman William Albert Bather Jr. 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 Toledo Police Department, 25 of 32 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 78.1% of this agency's fallen.

Toledo Police Department

of 32 officers

78.1% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious