William Kress
Patrolman

William Kress

Toledo Police Department — Toledo, OH
Felonious
End of Watch August 1, 1921
Age 22
The Vigil Panel 41 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Kress was shot and killed as he and his partner attempted to arrest a man who had threatened passersby with a gun on State Street. The man shot Patrolman Kress in the leg, severing an artery.

The suspect was sentenced to death and executed in the Ohio State Prison's electric chair on February 24, 1922.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-C47B08DB
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 Kress served with the Toledo Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Toledo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Kress.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Toledo, Lucas County, OH
Platform Identity tpd.lucas.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 1, 1921
Age 22
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Patrolman William Kress 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 Toledo Police Department, 25 of 32 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 78.1% of this agency's fallen.

Toledo Police Department
25
of 32 officers
78.1% 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 Kress's cause is highlighted.

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

How William Kress Compares

Age at Death
22
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Kress is highlighted in Aug.

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 Kress was killed by gun.

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