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William Avery Sexton
Agency patch
Probation Officer

William Avery Sexton

Columbus Division of Police — Columbus, OH
Accident
United States flag Ohio flag
End of Watch March 25, 1913
Age 32
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Badge 6
The Vigil Panel 27 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 58

Incident

Probation Officer William Sexton drowned while performing rescue operations during the Great Flood of 1913, in which the Scioto River overflowed. During the rescue operations, he fell from the rowboat in the area of Rich Street and Mitchell Street. His body was recovered several days later. Approximately 500 people were killed throughout Ohio during the flood, including Captain Allen McGown of the Findlay Police Department. Officer Sexton had served with the Columbus Police Department for eight years and was assigned as a probation officer for the Columbus Police Court.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, father, and brother.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Probation Officer Sexton gave the Columbus Division of Police 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Probation Officer Sexton.

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

Agency

Department Columbus Division of Police
Type Other
Location Columbus, Franklin County, OH
Platform Identity cdpd.franklin.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 25, 1913
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 32
Badge Number 6
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

William is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

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

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1913, 35 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 112th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 32. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. William had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Columbus Division of Police has 59 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Probation Officer William Avery Sexton

Columbus Division of Police · End of Watch March 25, 1913

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 43-W

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