William Gene Wells
Agency patch
Patrolman

William Gene Wells

Columbus Division of Police — Columbus, OH
Accident
End of Watch December 21, 1965
Age 36
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Badge 267
The Vigil Panel 101 ›
Gender Male

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

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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 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

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

Service Record

End of Watch December 21, 1965
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 36
Badge Number 267
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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

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.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

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.

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

When

December holds 8.9% 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

Patrolman William Gene Wells

Columbus Division of Police · End of Watch December 21, 1965

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 55-W

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