William Sherfie "Pete" Peterson

Akron Police Department — Akron, OH

Accident

End of Watch October 31, 1933

Age 37

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

The Vigil Panel 67 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 27

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: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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

Department Akron Police Department

Location Akron, OH

Platform Identity apd.summit.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 31, 1933

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Cause Detail Vehicle pursuit

Weapon Automobile

Patrolman William Sherfie "Pete" Peterson is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 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 1.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.

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.

Akron Police Department

of 28 officers

25% Accident

OH — Statewide

318

of 991 officers

32.1% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident