Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant William Prochazka was shot and killed when he interrupted a robbery in progress at a local paint store at the Southgate Shopping Center. He went to the store to drop off mug shots while investigating a robbery of the store from several weeks earlier. He was shot in the neck as he walked through the rear door. Three suspects were arrested in Cleveland shortly thereafter. The fourth suspect was arrested in Detroit on September 8, 1976, for breaking and entering. He gave a false name, but a fingerprint check revealed his true identity. All four, 18, 18, 19, and 19, were sentenced to death, but their sentences were commuted to life in 1977. One of the four, the getaway driver, was released in 2003. Two will be eligible for parole in 2025. One was granted parole in 2025, and one was denied. Sergeant Prochazka had served with the Bedford Heights Police Department for 11 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-FAA436B2- 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.
Sergeant Prochazka gave the Bedford Heights Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Bedford Heights community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Prochazka.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William A. Prochazka served in the U.S. Air Force (1952â1956) before joining law enforcement.
Sergeant William A. Prochazka 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William A. Prochazka's cause is highlighted.
How William A. Prochazka Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William A. Prochazka is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William A. Prochazka was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Military Service
William A. Prochazka served in the U.S. Air Force (1952–1956) before joining law enforcement.
Visit William A. Prochazka’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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