William Tom Wilson

Dayton Police Department — Dayton, OH

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch February 23, 1928

Age 33

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 55 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 30

Incident

Patrolman Tom Wilson was shot and killed when he stopped at his home at 28 Royal Street for lunch while walking his beat on February 21, 1923. When Patrolman Wilson went inside his home, he found a man inside his house. The officer had acted as a peacemaker for the man the previous day by counseling his domestic problems. The intrusion into the officer's home led to an argument between Patrolman Wilson and the suspect. Without provocation, the suspect produced a gun and fired on Patrolman Wilson, striking him in the abdomen. He was transferred to the St. Elizabeth hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. The 37-year-old subject was tried, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison. He applied for a parole in 1963. He was later released and died in Dayton in 1984. Patrolman Wilson was a decorated WWI veteran and had served with the Dayton Police Department for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-83ECFAD8
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Wilson gave the Dayton Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Dayton community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Dayton Police Department

Location Dayton, OH

Platform Identity dpd.montgomery.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 23, 1928

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Military Service

William Tom Wilson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman William Tom Wilson 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 Dayton Police Department, 18 of 31 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.1% of this agency's fallen.

Dayton Police Department

of 31 officers

58.1% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious