William F. Brown

Lima Police Department — Lima, OH

Felonious

End of Watch January 5, 1974

Age 41

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

The Vigil Panel 113 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Patrolman William Brown was shot and killed when he interrupted a robbery in progress at the Certified Oil Station on Cole Street and Robb Avenue while on patrol. When he entered the gas station, he asked the attendant if everything was okay. The attendant, who had been told by the suspect to cooperate, responded that everything was fine. Patrolman Brown then asked the suspect to remove the covering from his face. The man suddenly produced a gun and opened fire, striking Patrolman Brown four times. Patrolman Brown was able to fire one round as he fell. He then crawled to his patrol car and called for assistance before succumbing to his wounds. The suspect and his accomplice, both 18, fled the store, but both were eventually apprehended. On January 11, 1975, the gunman was sentenced to life in prison. He has a parole hearing on February 1, 2024. His accomplice was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and robbery and sentenced to two consecutive 7 to 25-year prison terms. Patrolman Brown had served with the Lima Police Department for 16 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, two daughters, five sons, and his mother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-1DED6016
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 Brown gave the Lima Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lima community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Brown.

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

Agency

Department Lima Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Lima, Allen County, OH

Platform Identity lpd.allen.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 5, 1974

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Age 41

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Patrolman William F. Brown 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 Lima Police Department, 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Lima Police Department

of 5 officers

100% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious