Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Pete Peterson succumbed to injuries sustained two months earlier while he and his partner pursued a suspected drunk driver on Clearview Avenue.
Their patrol car struck a large stone in the roadway, causing the tire to explode. When the patrol car came to a stop, both officers were cut and bruised. Officer Peterson suffered a severe shoulder injury.
Patrolman Peterson was placed on light duty following the incident. He left work early due to pain, and before the doctor could see him, a blood clot that had developed proved fatal.
Patrolman Peterson served with the Akron Police Department for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-4B68D707- 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 Peterson gave the Akron Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Akron community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Peterson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman William Sherfie Peterson is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In OH, 318 of 991 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32.1% of this state's fallen. That is 32.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Akron Police Department, 7 of 28 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Sherfie Peterson's cause is highlighted.
How William Sherfie Peterson Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. William Sherfie Peterson is highlighted in Oct.
Others Who Wore This Badge
27 officers from Akron Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
