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Patrolman

Forney L. Haas

Cleveland Division of Police — Cleveland, OH

Felonious

End of Watch December 8, 1951

Age 43

Tour of Duty 17 yrs

Badge 445

The Vigil Panel 194 · Column 1 · Line 17 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 118

Incident

Patrolman Forney Haas was shot and killed by a well-known criminal after a traffic stop. Patrolman Haas stopped a man driving a Lincoln with California plates driving the wrong way down a one-way street in Cleveland. He had no idea that the driver was a well-known criminal wanted for housebreaking, robbery, and car theft. Patrolman Haas asked to see his license and the criminal, playing for time, claimed to have left it at home. Patrolman Haas insisted on seeing it, so they drove to his rooming house at 8120 Euclid Avenue. The landlady was sweeping the hallway when she heard men's voices shouting in one of her rooms. She heard one man say, "I'm telling you, my license was in my wallet when I left. It's been stolen from here." After a few more angry exchanges, the woman heard a shot, followed by two more. The door opened, and a man holding a smoking revolver ran past her and out into the street. Patrolman Haas was rushed to Mt Sinai Hospital but died half an hour later without regaining consciousness. The suspect had grabbed Patrolman Hass' revolver, and he flushed it down a toilet so as not to be caught with it. The officer's weapon was found, however, and due to some chemical reaction, the suspect's print had become engraved on the weapon. This led to his conviction and subsequent execution in the electric chair on January 16, 1953. Patrolman Haas had served with the Cleveland Division of Police for 17 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

In Our Keeping

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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 Haas gave the Cleveland Division of Police 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Haas.

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

Agency

Department Cleveland Division of Police

Type Other

Location Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH

Platform Identity cdpd.cuyahoga.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 8, 1951

Tour of Duty 17 yrs

Age 43

Badge Number 445

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Forney is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1951, 65 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 113th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Forney was 43. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Forney had served 17 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded