William Hudec

Cleveland Division of Police — Cleveland, OH

Accident

End of Watch August 30, 1955

Age 45

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

The Vigil Panel 91 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 118

Incident

Patrolman William Hudec and Patrolman Warren Stainbrook were killed when the police ambulance they were operating was struck by a train at the East 91st Street crossing. The two officers were returning to the station after transporting a patient to a hospital. Several tall buildings near the tracks partially blocked the view of the crossing, and it is believed the officers did not see the train approaching. As they started across the tracks, the vehicle was struck by a train, which was traveling at approximately 50 mph. Both officers were thrown from the ambulance and killed. Patrolman Hudec had served with the Cleveland Division of Police for 14 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his daughter and brother, who also served with the Cleveland Police Department.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-0827615D
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 Hudec gave the Cleveland Division of Police 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Hudec.

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

Agency

Department Cleveland Division of Police

Location Cleveland, OH

Platform Identity cdpd.cuyahoga.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 30, 1955

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

Age 45

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Patrolman William Hudec 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 Cleveland Division of Police, 24 of 119 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 20.2% of this agency's fallen.

Cleveland Division of Police

of 119 officers

20.2% Accident

OH — Statewide

318

of 991 officers

32.1% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident