Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: Ohio Weapon: Handgun Offender: Never charged
Night Watchman William Lewis was shot and killed in the Pennsylvania Railroad yards at the Little Miami Depot in Cincinnati, Ohio.
He was walking the tracks at approximately 8:30 pm when he was shot several times by two men, who then fled on foot. The men remained at large for two years until two men were identified as suspects after a brother of one of the men informed detectives of the crime. Detectives were unable to collect enough evidence to prosecute either man.
Watchman Lewis had served with the Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department for nine months.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother, brother, and three sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-29FD31BC- 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
131 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Night Watchman Lewis served with the Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphpia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Night Watchman William Lewis 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department, 13 of 36 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 36.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Lewis's cause is highlighted.
How William Lewis Compares
Offender Outcome
Never charged
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Lewis is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Lewis was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
35 officers from Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
