Walter J. Pruehs
Agency patch
Patrolman

Walter J. Pruehs

Cleveland Division of Police — Cleveland, OH
Felonious
End of Watch October 18, 1920
Age 26
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Badge 709
The Vigil Panel 39 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Walter Pruehs was shot and killed while questioning three suspicious men he encountered at West 25th Street and Henritze Avenue while walking to work. During the questioning he instructed the men to walk with him to a police call box so that he could call for backups. As they walked the men suddenly produced revolvers, turned around, and one of them opened fire, striking Patrolman Pruehs in the abdomen. Patrolman Pruehs was able to return fire but did not strike the suspects. Patrolman Pruehs was able to make it to the call box and call for help. He was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds that evening. It was discovered that the three suspects were also wanted in connection with the burglary of Ott Cut-Rate Pharmacy at 3661 Fulton Road, where burglars carried away a three-hundred-pound safe containing six hundred dollars in cash and 100 postage stamps.

Survivors

Patrolman Pruehs had been with the agency for five years and was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
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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 Pruehs gave the Cleveland Division of Police 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Pruehs.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH
Platform Identity cdpd.cuyahoga.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 18, 1920
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 26
Badge Number 709
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Walter 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 1920, 209 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Walter was 26. 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. Walter had served 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

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. 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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Cleveland Division of Police has 119 officers remembered here, Walter among them.

Across the years

Patrolman Walter J. Pruehs

Cleveland Division of Police · End of Watch October 18, 1920

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 47-W

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