Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer William Loftin was shot and killed and his partner was wounded after responding to a call of a man firing a handgun at a bar at 3450 Burnet Avenue. A short time earlier the man had walked into the bar and informed the bartender that he needed a gun because he wanted to shoot a police officer. He then went to his car, retrieved a .38 caliber revolver, and stood on the sidewalk. A citizen who had observed him holding the gun then found Officer Loftin and his partner parked close by. As he told them about the subject the man fired two shots in the air. Officer Loftin and his partner confronted the man, who then opened fire on them, striking Officer Loftin in the abdomen. Both officers returned fire, wounding the suspect as he fled. He was arrested a short distance away. The man was convicted of aggravated murder and sentenced to death June 29th, 1977. His sentence was later commuted to life by the United States Supreme Court. He was denied parole several times and died in prison on August 18th, 2007. Officer Loftin was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Cincinnati Police Department for almost nine years.
Survivors
He was survived by his fiancee, parents, and grandmother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-13CCB6D5- 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.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Loftin gave the Cincinnati Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cincinnati community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William J. Loftin served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer William J. Loftin 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William J. Loftin's cause is highlighted.
How William J. Loftin Compares
Offender Outcome
Died in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William J. Loftin is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William J. Loftin was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
105 officers from Cincinnati Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
