William C. Horn
Agency patch
Patrolman

William C. Horn

Dayton Police Department — Dayton, OH
Felonious
End of Watch September 18, 1927
Age 37
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Badge 42
The Vigil Panel 54 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman William Horn was shot and killed after stopping a man carrying a concealed weapon at the intersection of Warren Street and Hollencamp Street (modern-day Washington Street and South Patterson Boulevard). Patrolman Horn disarmed the suspect, but a struggle ensued, and the man regained control of the gun, fired five times, and killed Patrolman Horn. The suspect was later shot and apprehended. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. He was awarded a new trial and subsequently acquitted on March 23rd, 1929. Patrolman Horn had served with the Dayton Police Department for 12 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-6838D1FA
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 Horn gave the Dayton Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Dayton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Horn.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Dayton, Montgomery County, OH
Platform Identity dpd.montgomery.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 18, 1927
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 37
Badge Number 42
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Patrolman William C. Horn 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 Dayton Police Department, 18 of 31 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.1% of this agency's fallen.

Dayton Police Department
18
of 31 officers
58.1% Felonious
OH — Statewide
572
of 991 officers
57.7% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William C. Horn's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How William C. Horn Compares

Age at Death
37
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
12
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William C. Horn is highlighted in Sep.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William C. Horn was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location