Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective John Buettner succumbed to a gunshot wound received three days earlier while attempting to question a robbery suspect at East 79th Street and Superior shortly after midnight. While on routine patrol, Detective Buettner and his partner received notification about a robbery at 11:30 pm. They stopped their vehicle when they noticed a subject matching the description of one of the robbery suspects. When the two officers approached the man, he suddenly produced a small handgun from his waistband and opened fire, striking Detective Buettner in the stomach. Detective Buettner's partner was able to return fire and struck the fleeing subject in the right shoulder before he escaped. Detective Buettner was transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds three days later. The subject was eventually apprehended and confessed to the robbery and Detective Buettner's murder. He was sentenced to death for the murder and executed in the electric chair. Detective Buettner had served with the Cleveland Division of Police for 19 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-6E3E2FEF- 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.
Detective Buettner gave the Cleveland Division of Police 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Buettner.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective John S. Buettner 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. John S. Buettner's cause is highlighted.
How John S. Buettner Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John S. Buettner is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John S. Buettner was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
118 officers from Cleveland Division of Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
