George Werne

Akron Police Department — Akron, OH

Felonious

End of Watch March 9, 1919

Age 32

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Badge 45

The Vigil Panel 36 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 27

Incident

Patrolman George Werne was shot and killed at 9:10 am while searching three robbery suspects at the Hickory Street Railroad Crossing. When three officers approached the subjects, they fired at the officers before they had a chance to draw their weapons. Patrolman Werne was shot in the spine and died instantly. The two other officers survived their wounds. The three suspects were apprehended. One of the suspects suffered a gunshot wound when he fired at officers attempting to arrest him. He was found guilty of first-degree murder and executed on March 31, 1920. Another suspect was found guilty and sentenced to life. The third suspect escaped and was never apprehended. Officer Werne had served with the Akron Police Department for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-41F775D4
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 Werne gave the Akron Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Akron community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Werne.

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

Agency

Department Akron Police Department

Location Akron, OH

Platform Identity apd.summit.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 9, 1919

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 32

Badge Number 45

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Executed in 1920

Patrolman George Werne 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 Akron Police Department, 16 of 28 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this agency's fallen.

Akron Police Department

of 28 officers

57.1% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious