Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Kenneth Houser was shot and killed while off duty when three robbery suspects discovered his badge and gun. Patrolman Houser was at Cliffs Bar at 9115 Buckeye Road when three armed men entered and announced a robbery at 1:00 a.m. While taking the belongings from the occupants, they discovered that Patrolman Houser was a police officer and immediately shot him. The suspects also shot and killed the bar owner. In July of 1970, two suspects were arrested after officers stopped them for a traffic violation and found Patrolman Houser's service revolver in their car. The third suspect was arrested a few days later. Two suspects were convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in February of 1971. One died in prison on March 12, 1987. Patrolman Houser had served with the Cleveland Division of Police for over one year, assigned to the Fourth District.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-BDD0F061- 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
You barely got started.
Patrolman Houser gave the Cleveland Division of Police 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Houser.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Kenneth R. Houser 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. Kenneth R. Houser's cause is highlighted.
How Kenneth R. Houser Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Kenneth R. Houser is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Kenneth R. Houser was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
118 officers from Cleveland Division of Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
