Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Daniel Bruns succumbed to his wounds when he was shot while attempting to break up a fight while off duty. At 6:30 a.m., he was entering a bar that his friend owned at 522 Xenia Avenue at the same that his friend was attempting to throw out two men who were fighting. When Patrolman Bruns walked in, the friend identified him as a police officer and asked him to escort the men out. As he did so, one of the men pulled out a gun and shot him in the forehead. Patrolman Bruns was transported to Miami Valley Hospital and succumbed to his wounds two days later. The 19-year-old subject was arrested, convicted of second-degree murder, and sentenced to 15 years to life. Patrolman Bruns had served with the Dayton Police Department for 23 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, mother, two stepdaughters, a stepson, and three sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-0E1357FB- 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
23 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Bruns gave the Dayton Police Department 23 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Dayton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Bruns.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Daniel Henry Bruns 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 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Daniel Henry Bruns's cause is highlighted.
How Daniel Henry Bruns Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Daniel Henry Bruns is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Daniel Henry Bruns was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
30 officers from Dayton Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
