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Police Specialist

David H. Massel

Woodlawn Police Department — Cincinnati, OH

Felonious

End of Watch February 9, 1985

Age 37

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

The Vigil Panel 129 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Police Specialist David Massel was killed when his patrol car was struck head-on by a drunk driver on Ohio Route 4 (Springfield Pike) at 12:30 a.m. The driver was speeding, crossed the center lines, and collided with the patrol car. Witnesses pulled Specialist Massel out of the burning vehicle. The intoxicated driver was also killed in the collision. Specialist Massel had served with the Woodlawn Police Department for seven years and founded the Woodlawn Crime Prevention Program.

Survivors

He was survived by his mother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-92F135C3
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.
Police Specialist Massel gave the Woodlawn Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cincinnati community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Specialist Massel.

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

Agency

Department Woodlawn Police Department

Location Cincinnati, OH

Platform Identity woodpd.hamilton.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 9, 1985

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Not available

Police Specialist David H. Massel 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%.

Woodlawn Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David H. Massel's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How David H. Massel Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Not available

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David H. Massel is highlighted in Feb.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. David H. Massel was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518