William Orma Sorrell

Cincinnati Police Department — Cincinnati, OH

Felonious

End of Watch March 24, 1931

Age 28

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Badge 57

The Vigil Panel 61 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 105

Incident

Patrolman William Sorrell was shot and killed while responding to an armed robbery in progress. At 10:00 p.m., Patrolman Sorrell and his partner walked into a drugstore located at 1400 Linn Street in Cincinnati and unknowingly interrupted a robbery in progress. Two male suspects had just robbed the store of $70-$75 and were preparing to leave as the officers walked in. One of the suspects opened fire on the officers, striking Patrolman Sorrell in the forehead before he had a chance to reach for his weapon. The men ran out of the store with Patrolman Sorrell's partner in pursuit but were able to elude the officer. Two men who were executed on August 14, 1933, for the murder of a bank cashier in Silverton told Cincinnati detectives that they killed Patrolman Sorrell a few days before they were executed. The detectives said they answered questions in such a way that proved they murdered Patrolman Sorrell. Patrolman Sorrell had served with the Cincinnati Police Department for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-63E175EE
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 Sorrell gave the Cincinnati Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cincinnati community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Sorrell.

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

Agency

Department Cincinnati Police Department

Location Cincinnati, OH

Platform Identity cincpd.hamilton.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 24, 1931

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 28

Badge Number 57

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Executed for another murder

Patrolman William Orma Sorrell 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.

Cincinnati Police Department

of 106 officers

59.4% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious