Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

William C. Boers

Cincinnati Police Department — Cincinnati, OH

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch April 16, 1917

Age 45

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

Badge 394

The Vigil Panel 32 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 105

Incident

Patrolman William Boers was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man wanted for beating his wife at a home on 834 West Fourth Street. The woman had requested police protection, and Patrolman Boers volunteered for the duty because he knew the husband and believed he could help calm the situation. As Patrolman Boers and the woman approached the home, the man appeared in the doorway and shot Patrolman Boers in the abdomen. Despite being mortally wounded, Patrolman Boers returned fire and chased the subject into the home. The man jumped from a second-floor window and broke his ankle. He was taken into custody by another officer in Webb Alley behind the home. The 30-year-old subject was apprehended and sentenced to 20 years. He was paroled on November 15, 1930, with the condition that he never drink again. Six months later, Cincinnati police responded to a disturbance at a brothel where he was found to be intoxicated, and he slapped the policeman who arrested him. He could have been sent back to prison but instead got 30 days in jail. Patrolman Boers was an Ohio National Guard veteran and had served with the Cincinnati Police Division for 20 years. He was survived by his wife, son, and two daughters. He is buried in Walnut Hill Cemetery, Walnut Hills, Ohio.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-89E55668
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Boers gave the Cincinnati Police Department 20 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cincinnati community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Cincinnati Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH

Platform Identity cincpd.hamilton.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 16, 1917

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

Age 45

Badge Number 394

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

William C. Boers served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman William C. Boers 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 97,759 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 Cincinnati Police Department, 63 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.4% of this agency's fallen.

Cincinnati Police Department

of 106 officers

59.4% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious