Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Edward Piller was killed in a motorcycle accident while test-driving one of the department's motorcycles on Ohio State 14 outside of Salem.
The motorcycle had been out of service since the previous fall when a new motorcycle had been purchased. The motorcycle had been serviced, and Patrolman Piller was testing it behind city hall with the police chief and mayor watching. The mayor requested to ride on the rear of the motorcycle, and the request was approved by the chief.
As Patrolman Piller drove the mayor down the street, the motorcycle struck a rut in the roadway and threw both men to the ground. Patrolman Piller suffered a skull fracture and died as a result. The mayor recovered from his injuries.
Patrolman Piller had served with the Salem Police Department for six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, mother, sister, and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-27FF11A8- 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 Piller gave the Salem Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Salem community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Piller.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Edward D. Piller 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 Salem Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Edward D. Piller's cause is highlighted.
How Edward D. Piller Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Edward D. Piller is highlighted in Apr.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Salem Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
