Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Bill Shapiro was shot and killed by a sniper who had been shooting at traffic at Baldwin Reservoir at Fairhill Road. Patrolman Shapiro and other officers had responded to the scene two previous times but were unable to locate the suspect. When they arrived the third time, the suspect ambushed them and shot Patrolman Shapiro using a shotgun. It was Patrolman Shapiro's 36th birthday. The 21-year-old suspect was charged with Patrolman Shapiro's murder and found not guilty by reason of insanity and was remanded to a state hospital. He was denied a release on January 13, 1978. On March 30, 1982, he escaped but was recaptured the next day. As of 2016, he was in a mental hospital in Northfield. Patrolman Shapiro was a United States Navy veteran and had served with the Cleveland Division of Police for five years. He was survived by his wife, four children, parents, and brother. One of his sons served with the Cleveland Police Department. He is buried at Lakewood Park Cemetery in Rocky River, Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, four children, parents, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-A0DFA3F2- 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 Shapiro gave the Cleveland Division of Police 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William Nathan Shapiro served in the Navy (1955â1959) before joining law enforcement.
Patrolman William Nathan Shapiro 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 Nathan Shapiro's cause is highlighted.
How William Nathan Shapiro Compares
Offender Outcome
Not guilty by reason of insanity
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Nathan Shapiro is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Nathan Shapiro was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
118 officers from Cleveland Division of Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
