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Incident
Patrolman William Dalton was pursuing a violator of the panhandling ordinance on horseback. The horse ran into a buggy at the intersection of Germantown Street and Baxter Street (modern day Fitch Street), throwing Patrolman Dalton to the ground and causing a fractured skull from which he died the next day. Patrolman Dalton had served with the Dayton Police Department for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
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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
127 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Dalton gave the Dayton Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Dayton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Dayton Police Department has lost 31 officers; 6 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 1899, 1 officer at Dayton Police Department was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1899, 2 officers in OH were lost to accidents, the 53rd heaviest of 125 years on record. The heaviest was 1925, with 8.
In 1899, 15 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 129th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1899, 25 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 122nd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
William was 44. Of the 6 lost to accidents at Dayton Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 27.5 and 42.8; the middle age was 37. William had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 4.2 years.
William was 44. 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 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
William was 44. 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 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
William was 44. 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 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 16.7% of these deaths at Dayton Police Department; January holds the most, 33.3%. Thursdays: 50%.
August holds 9.1% of these deaths in OH; July holds the most, 12.2%. Thursdays: 14.4%.
August holds 9.5% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Thursdays: 14%.
August holds 9.3% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 19.4% of all 31 deaths at Dayton Police Department, the 3rd 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
Dayton Police Department has 31 officers remembered here, William among them.
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Lee Lynam
Jan 17, 1880
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Amer M. Keller
Jan 7, 1897
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William Dalton
Aug 10, 1899
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John J. Stapleton
Jan 17, 1916
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Charles V. Thomas
May 21, 1916
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George V. Purcell
Sep 23, 1916
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Lawrence Robert Graham
Oct 7, 1918
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Edward Michael Hennessey
Oct 12, 1918
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Vinton E. Harsh
Oct 13, 1918
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Emerson A. Glotfelter
Dec 7, 1918
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Clement Leroy Francis
Mar 8, 1919
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Troy Elmer Sine
Jan 28, 1920
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George E. Clark
Jan 29, 1923
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William C. Horn
Sep 18, 1927
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John C. Post
Sep 25, 1927
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Walter E. Rauch
Dec 25, 1927
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William Tom Wilson
Feb 23, 1928
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Lucius J. Rice
Oct 5, 1939
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Sherman E. Nowlin
May 3, 1947
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Herman A. Drexler
May 16, 1947
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Richard Owen Baker
Nov 5, 1965
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Ronald K. Wells
Apr 6, 1967
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James Lee Mobley
Jan 25, 1970
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Paul Erwin Mortimer
Jul 31, 1970
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Daniel Henry Bruns
Jul 3, 1973
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William Kenneth Mortimer
Mar 4, 1974
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Eddie L. Hobson
Oct 11, 1981
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William Steven Whalen
Mar 22, 1991
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Jason K. Grossnickle
May 23, 1996
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Mary Lynn Beall
Aug 25, 2002
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Jorge Rene DelRio
Nov 7, 2019
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 43-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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