Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer William Kohler was shot and killed while investigating a call from two utility workers. The two men had told the officer they had seen several broken slot machines nearby in a lot near Mountain Boulevard and Shone Avenue. When Officer Kohler went to the scene he found two juveniles shooting at tin cans. As he approached, the suspects opened fire, striking him several times. The suspects then drove over his body as they fled. The gun the suspects used had been stolen from an officer they had shot and wounded in Alameda County one week earlier. That officer's life was saved when a bullet deflected off his badge. The suspects were arrested a few days later in Beaver, Utah, when they were caught attempting to steal a car. Both suspects were convicted of first-degree murder on September 18th, 1931, and sentenced to life in San Quentin Prison. One was paroled on September 24th, 1943. Officer Kohler had served with the Oakland Police Department for 25 years.
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
25 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer Kohler gave the Oakland Police Department 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Oakland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Kohler.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer William T. Kohler 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Oakland Police Department, 37 of 54 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 68.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William T. Kohler's cause is highlighted.
How William T. Kohler Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William T. Kohler is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William T. Kohler was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
53 officers from Oakland Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
