Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective William Foulks was shot and killed by a suspect during a violent strike between union molders and non-union molders filling their positions on the corner of Wood* and Hamilton Streets in Cleveland. Detective Foulks and another officer were searching for a wanted man when they heard gunshots in the crowd. The officers ran towards the crowd and Detective Foulks, who was in plain clothes, immediately began to struggle with one of the strikers. During the struggle, his revolver fell out; the man picked it up and shot him with it. The man was later arrested but was subsequently acquitted of murder charges, claiming he did not know Detective Foulks was a police officer and was acting in self-defense. Detective Foulks served with the Cleveland Division of Police for three years. He was survived by his wife and six children. Wood Street has been renamed East 3rd Street, and Hamilton Street does not extend to E 3rd Street in 2022.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-89D5F676- 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 Foulks gave the Cleveland Division of Police 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Foulks.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective William L. Foulks 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. William L. Foulks's cause is highlighted.
How William L. Foulks Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted of murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William L. Foulks is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William L. Foulks was killed by officer's 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.
