Guy Norris
Agency patch
Patrolman

Guy Norris

Akron Police Department — Akron, OH
Felonious
End of Watch December 24, 1917
Age 28
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 6 mo
Badge 51
The Vigil Panel 33 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Guy Norris was the first of four Akron Policemen to be shot and killed by members of an Italian gang in retaliation for the Akron Police Department's crackdown on their gambling dens and brothels. His body was found on South High Street, between Thornton and Voris Streets. He had been shot in the back several times. The gang was responsible for the deaths of Patrolman Edward J. Costigan and Patrolman Joseph H. Hunt, both shot and killed January 10, 1918, and Patrolman Gothin H. Richards, shot and killed March 12, 1918. The Akron Police Department was baffled by the murders, not realizing the gang's involvement until an anonymous phone caller implicated one of the gang members, who was arrested in New York. The suspect implicated five other gang members who were arrested and charged with murder. Four of the suspects were executed in Ohio's electric chair: one on October 4, 1918, two on February 19, 1919, and one on July 24, 1919. The other two suspects were sentenced to life in prison. One was released in 1934 and deported to Italy. The other suspect was denied parole in 1964. Patrolman Norris had served with the Akron Police Department for 2-1/2 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and parents.

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 Norris gave the Akron Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Akron community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Norris.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Akron, Summit County, OH
Platform Identity apd.summit.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 24, 1917
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 6 mo
Age 28
Badge Number 51
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1917, 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

Guy was 28. 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. Guy had served 2.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Mondays: 13.8%.

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

Akron Police Department has 28 officers remembered here, Guy among them.

VI

Where

Patrolman Guy Norris

Akron Police Department · End of Watch December 24, 1917

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 44-W

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