Roll of Honor
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
- 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 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman William Deiters 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 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Deiters's cause is highlighted.
How William Deiters Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Deiters is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Deiters was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
105 officers from Cincinnati Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
