Roll of Honor
Incident
Watchman Joseph Stoddard was stabbed to death while walking his beat in the city's Third Ward.
Earlier in the evening, he had been involved in a foot pursuit of a subject who fled from him after creating a disturbance in a local saloon. Watchman Stoddard was granted permission from his lieutenant to be relieved from attending roll call at the end of his shift so he could search for an item he saw the subject throw into some bushes.
Several hours later, a citizen located Watchman Stoddard's body suffering a stab wound on Pearson Street, between Third Street and Front Street. Investigation revealed that his revolver had been fired once.
Two men were initially arrested in connection with his murder but were later released due to a lack of evidence. The subject he had chased earlier in the evening was also identified and was wanted for robbery. He was located in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was shot and killed when officers attempted to arrest him. It was never determined if he was responsible for murdering Watchman Stoddard.
Watchman Stoddard was survived by his wife and children.
Survivors
Watchman Stoddard was survived by his wife and children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-EE0E1A87- 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
174 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Watchman Stoddard served with the Cincinnati Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Cincinnati community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Watchman Joseph Stoddard 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 Cincinnati Police Department, 63 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Stoddard's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Stoddard Compares
Offender Outcome
Never positively identified
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Stoddard is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Stoddard was killed by edged weapon.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
105 officers from Cincinnati Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
