William Steven Whalen
Agency patch
Police Officer

William Steven Whalen

Dayton Police Department — Dayton, OH
Felonious
End of Watch March 22, 1991
Age 38
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Badge 608
The Vigil Panel 136 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer William Whalen was shot and killed near the intersection of Xenia Avenue at St. Paul Avenue while attempting to stop a vehicle wanted in connection with a shooting at a local hotel. As he attempted to stop the truck, the driver opened the rear window and opened fire with an AR-15 rifle. Officer Whalen was able to return fire twice but was struck in the head and killed. The subject was apprehended and sentenced to life in prison. His first parole hearing is in June 2048. Officer Whalen had served with the Dayton Police Department for 15 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-E3D1B8E3
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.
Police Officer Whalen gave the Dayton Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Dayton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Whalen.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Dayton, Montgomery County, OH
Platform Identity dpd.montgomery.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 22, 1991
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Age 38
Badge Number 608
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

Police Officer William Steven Whalen 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%.

At Dayton Police Department, 18 of 31 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.1% of this agency's fallen.

Dayton Police Department
18
of 31 officers
58.1% Felonious
OH — Statewide
572
of 991 officers
57.7% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Steven Whalen's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How William Steven Whalen Compares

Age at Death
38
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
15
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Steven Whalen is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Steven Whalen was killed by rifle.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location