Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Bill Brewer was shot and killed after responding to call from a suicidal man armed with a gun at an apartment complex at 368 St. Andrews Drive in Pierce Township.
Shortly before 7:00 pm the Clermont County Sheriff's Office received a call from the man who initially stated that someone had broken into his home. The same man later told 911 dispatchers that he was suicidal and armed with a gun. When officers arrived they couldn't contact the man who had barricaded himself inside his apartment.
Several minutes later the man fired several shots prompting officers from several agencies to respond and begin to negotiate with him. At 10:30 pm the man again opened fire from his apartment. The shots struck and killed Detective Brewer and wounded a second deputy.
The man was taken into custody inside of the apartment by members of the SWAT Team a short time later.
Detective Brewer had served with the Clermont County Sheriff's Office for 20 years.
Survivors
His is survived by his wife and 5-year-old son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-ABB958D4- 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.
Detective Brewer gave the Clermont County Sheriff's Office 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Batavia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Brewer.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective William Lee Brewer, Jr. 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 Clermont County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Lee Brewer, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How William Lee Brewer, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Lee Brewer, Jr. is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Lee Brewer, Jr. was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Clermont County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
