William Deiters
Agency patch
Patrolman

William Deiters

Cincinnati Police Department — Cincinnati, OH
Felonious
End of Watch August 29, 1918
Age 35
Tour of Duty 13 yrs 6 mo
The Vigil Panel 79 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman William Deiters was shot and killed at the intersection of Liberty Street and Freeman Avenue while walking his beat. Two men approached him and attempted to rob him of his revolver. In an attempt to protect himself, Patrolman Deiters reached for his revolver but was shot in the chest. Two other officers who happened to be in a passing streetcar witnessed the shooting and chased the suspects a short distance before losing them. Both men were arrested in Pennsylvania and extradited back to Ohio where they confessed to the robbery and murder. One subject was convicted of robbery. The other was convicted of Patrolman Deiters' murder and, after two trials and several stays of execution, he was executed by electrocution on January 26th, 1923. Patrolman Deiters had served with the Cincinnati Police Division for 13-1/2 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two children, and mother.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Deiters gave the Cincinnati Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cincinnati community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Deiters.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH
Platform Identity cincpd.hamilton.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 29, 1918
Tour of Duty 13 yrs 6 mo
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1918, 165 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 35. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. William had served 13.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Cincinnati Police Department has 106 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman William Deiters

Cincinnati Police Department · End of Watch August 29, 1918

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 37-W

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