Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Lafayette Mercer was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man for threatening his wife at his home on Adams Street. The man, who was drunk and high on drugs, was known to Patrolman Mercer. After talking to the man for a short time Patrolman Mercer told him he would have to go to jail. As Patrolman Mercer stood up the suspect pulled a .32 caliber revolver from his pocket and started firing. Despite being shot four times, Patrolman Mercer was able to return fire and fatally wounded the suspect. Patrolman Mercer had served with the agency for 20 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, mother, and several brothers and sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-7055C90B- 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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Mercer gave the Steubenville Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Steubenville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Mercer.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Lafayette Mercer 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 Steubenville Police Dept., 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Lafayette Mercer's cause is highlighted.
How Lafayette Mercer Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lafayette Mercer is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Lafayette Mercer was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Steubenville Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
