William Deiters

Cincinnati Police Department — Cincinnati, OH

Felonious

End of Watch August 29, 1918

Age 35

Tour of Duty 13 yrs 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 34 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 105

Incident

Patrolman William Deiters was shot and killed at the intersection of Liberty Street and Freeman Avenue while walking his beat. Two men approached him and attempted to rob him of his revolver. In an attempt to protect himself, Patrolman Deiters reached for his revolver but was shot in the chest. Two other officers who happened to be in a passing streetcar witnessed the shooting and chased the suspects a short distance before losing them. Both men were arrested in Pennsylvania and extradited back to Ohio where they confessed to the robbery and murder. One subject was convicted of robbery. The other was convicted of Patrolman Deiters' murder and, after two trials and several stays of execution, he was executed by electrocution on January 26th, 1923. Patrolman Deiters had served with the Cincinnati Police Division for 13-1/2 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two children, and mother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-32807009
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew William. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Deiters gave the Cincinnati Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cincinnati community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Deiters.

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

Agency

Department Cincinnati Police Department

Location Cincinnati, OH

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

Service Record

End of Watch August 29, 1918

Tour of Duty 13 yrs 6 mo

Age 35

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Executed in 1923

Patrolman William Deiters is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

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

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious