Incident
Patrolman William Wells was struck by a vehicle and killed while on secondary assignment for the F. & R. Lazarus Store parking garage at Front Street and Rich Street in Columbus. A driver was unable to stop his vehicle driving down the parking ramp despite placing both feet on the brake pedal. Patrolman Wells warned and moved other pedestrians out of the way before he was hit by the car and pushed into a wall. He had served with the Columbus Division of Police for 12 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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 Wells gave the Columbus Division of Police 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Wells.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Columbus Division of Police has lost 59 officers; 19 of them lost to accidents.
William is one of 319 officers lost to accidents in OH, 32.1% of the 993 remembered there.
William is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
William is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1965, 2 officers at Columbus Division of Police were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1965, 7 officers in OH were lost to accidents, the 3rd heaviest of 125 years on record. The heaviest was 1925, with 8.
In 1965, 56 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 83rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1965, 70 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 74th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
William was 36. Of the 19 lost to accidents at Columbus Division of Police whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 46.5; the middle age was 37. William had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 10.5 years.
William was 36. Of the 310 lost to accidents in OH whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 37. William had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
William was 36. 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 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
William was 36. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. William had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 5.3% of these deaths at Columbus Division of Police; January holds the most, 21.1%. Tuesdays: 21.1%.
December holds 8.8% of these deaths in OH; July holds the most, 12.2%. Tuesdays: 15%.
December holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.
December holds 8.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Tuesdays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 32.2% of all 59 deaths at Columbus Division of Police, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 32.1% of all 993 deaths in OH, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Columbus Division of Police has 59 officers remembered here, William among them.
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Cyrus Beebe Apr 27, 1854
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John Manning Nov 17, 1888
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Abe Kleeman
Sep 15, 1899
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Daniel E. Davis
Jun 7, 1905
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Harry E. Campbell
Dec 24, 1908
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Frank P. Ward
Jun 9, 1911
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William Avery Sexton
Mar 25, 1913
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Joseph Lavender Jun 26, 1913
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James Drayton Ballard
Nov 9, 1914
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John Laufhutte
Aug 22, 1916
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William O'Rourke
Nov 24, 1917
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David Luther Jenkins
Feb 8, 1919
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Adolph G. Schneider
Sep 24, 1920
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Charles E. Tiller
Oct 28, 1920
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Jesse Reall
Feb 26, 1921
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Granison P. Koehler
Nov 28, 1922
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Troy C. Stewart
Apr 22, 1924
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Harry E. Shaffer, Sr.
Mar 9, 1925
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Walter O. Womeldorf
May 29, 1925
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William Schweinsberger
Jan 7, 1926
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Horace D. Elliott
Mar 29, 1927
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Leroy W. Wade
Jan 23, 1928
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Thomas H. Day
Jul 7, 1931
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Leslie Ellsworth Green
Oct 4, 1931
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Ross Porter
Jul 23, 1934
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Edward J. Murphy
May 11, 1935
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Frederick Frank Kundts
Mar 22, 1936
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John P. Sears
Nov 30, 1936
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Robert R. Cline
Feb 5, 1938
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Campbell K. Jenkins
Jan 9, 1939
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John M. McCullough
Jan 18, 1942
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Thomas E. Webb
Aug 17, 1956
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Richard E. Taylor
Jan 19, 1963
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Allen E. Fraley
Nov 6, 1964
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Robert F. Lisska
May 26, 1965
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Daniel Alfred Redding
Jul 27, 1965
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William Gene Wells
Dec 21, 1965
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Lawrence Vernon Kipfinger
Oct 14, 1969
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Curtis L. Staton
Mar 22, 1972
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Joseph Andrew Edwards Aug 28, 1972
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James K. Reed
May 18, 1974
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Dale W. McCann
Jun 7, 1974
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Roger Lee Brown
Aug 11, 1976
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Michael Joseph Bernard Smith
Aug 11, 1976
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Martin W. Yawarsky
Sep 6, 1980
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Gordon Joseph Rich
Apr 5, 1986
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Richard Fickeisen
Jun 1, 1987
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Jane E. Thompson-Bowman
Mar 9, 1989
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Robin H. Nye
Jan 4, 1991
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Raymond E. Radel, Jr.
Apr 25, 1991
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Chris Edward Clites
Dec 10, 1993
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Marc Muncy
Apr 5, 1995
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Keith Lee Evans
Jul 9, 1995
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Christopher Neal Claypool
Apr 29, 2001
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Melissa M. Foster
Dec 4, 2004
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Bryan Scott Hurst
Jan 6, 2005
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Timothy Allen Haley
Aug 26, 2008
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Thomas Raymond Hayes
Jan 20, 2011
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Steven Michael Smith
Apr 12, 2016
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 55-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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