Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Forney Haas was shot and killed by a well-known criminal after a traffic stop. Patrolman Haas stopped a man driving a Lincoln with California plates driving the wrong way down a one-way street in Cleveland. He had no idea that the driver was a well-known criminal wanted for housebreaking, robbery, and car theft. Patrolman Haas asked to see his license and the criminal, playing for time, claimed to have left it at home. Patrolman Haas insisted on seeing it, so they drove to his rooming house at 8120 Euclid Avenue. The landlady was sweeping the hallway when she heard men's voices shouting in one of her rooms. She heard one man say, "I'm telling you, my license was in my wallet when I left. It's been stolen from here." After a few more angry exchanges, the woman heard a shot, followed by two more. The door opened, and a man holding a smoking revolver ran past her and out into the street. Patrolman Haas was rushed to Mt Sinai Hospital but died half an hour later without regaining consciousness. The suspect had grabbed Patrolman Hass' revolver, and he flushed it down a toilet so as not to be caught with it. The officer's weapon was found, however, and due to some chemical reaction, the suspect's print had become engraved on the weapon. This led to his conviction and subsequent execution in the electric chair on January 16, 1953. Patrolman Haas had served with the Cleveland Division of Police for 17 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-3CC4CAD2- 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 Haas gave the Cleveland Division of Police 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Haas.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Forney L. Haas 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 Cleveland Division of Police, 83 of 119 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Forney L. Haas's cause is highlighted.
How Forney L. Haas Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1953
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Forney L. Haas is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Forney L. Haas was killed by handgun; revolver.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
118 officers from Cleveland Division of Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
