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Derek Wayne Owens
Agency patch
Police Officer

Derek Wayne Owens

Cleveland Division of Police — Cleveland, OH
Felonious
United States flag Ohio flag
End of Watch March 1, 2008
Age 36
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
The Vigil Panel 156 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 118

Incident

Officer Derek Owens was shot and killed as he and his partner chased four suspects in the city's southeast side.

The officer and his partner had observed the four men drinking beer in an abandoned lot and approached to speak to them. The men fled on foot as the officers pursued them. One of the suspects produced a handgun and opened fire, striking Officer Owens once in the abdomen, below his vest.

Other officers transported Officer Owens to a local hospital in the back of a patrol car. He succumbed to his injuries shortly after midnight while undergoing surgery.

All four suspects were taken into custody following a house to house search in the area. In November 2008 one of the suspects was convicted of murder and sentenced to life without parole.

Officer Owens had served with the Cleveland Police Department for 10 years and was assigned to the 4th District.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two children.

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.
Police Officer Owens gave the Cleveland Division of Police 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Owens.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch March 1, 2008
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Age 36
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Derek is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 2008, 65 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 113th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Derek was 36. 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. Derek had served 10 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 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

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, Derek among them.

Across the years

Police Officer Derek Wayne Owens

Cleveland Division of Police · End of Watch March 1, 2008

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 18-E

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