Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Sherman Nowlin was killed when his patrol car was struck by a train at the East First Street railroad crossing while he and his partner chased a stolen car. His partner survived the crash. Patrolman Nowlin was a United States Navy WWII veteran and had served with the Dayton Police Department for only 11 days.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and infant son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-FFEF4D1A- 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 Nowlin served with the Dayton Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Dayton 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
Sherman E. Nowlin served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Sherman E. Nowlin is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In OH, 318 of 991 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Dayton Police Department, 6 of 31 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 19.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Sherman E. Nowlin's cause is highlighted.
How Sherman E. Nowlin Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Sherman E. Nowlin is highlighted in May.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
30 officers from Dayton Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
