Patrolman Walter Harrison Williams | Cincinnati Police Division
Badge: P455
Age: 24
Served: 1½ years
July 1, 1950 to October 17, 1951
OFFICER
Walter was born February 1, 1927 in Hamilton County to Howard (of Illinois) and Pearl (Sinclair) (of Kentucky) Williams. He served in the United States Army Air Force during the second world war and was honorably discharged as a corporal on December 1, 1948.
When he came home, he moved into 1723 Central Avenue.
Walter joined the Cincinnati Police Division as a Police Recruit on July 1, 1950. He was promoted to Patrolman on September 1, 1950, issued Badge 455, and assigned to District 7 (813 Beecher Street).
INCIDENT
On October 17, 1951, at 2:30 a.m., Patrolman Williams was operating a 1950 Chevrolet Coupe west on Laidlaw Avenue. Victor Heinrick (28) of 114 South Main Street in Sharonville drove a 1951 Ford sedan northbound on Paddock Road. The two collided at the intersection.
Heinrick was dead at the scene.
Patrolman Williams suffered a skull fracture and broken neck. Patrolman Miley, Highway Safety Bureau, transported him to General Hospital.
DEATH
At 3 a.m., Doctor Keerle pronounced Patrolman Williams’s death from multiple body injuries and traumatic shock.
Patrolman Williams was survived by his mother, Pearl Williams. He was buried in Section 22, Grave 2321, Vine Street Cemetery on October 20, 1951.
EPILOGUE
During 1995, the Cincinnati Police Planning Section discovered Cincinnati Municipal Code Section 306-40 directing that “the badge and badge number of any police officer who is killed in the line of duty or active military duty shall be retired from use by the Cincinnati Police Division.” Cincinnati Police Chief Michael C. Snowden determined to surrender badges going back to 1950, including those currently issued to police officers on a voluntary basis. Police Officer Bonnie Kreimer was assigned Patrolman Williams’s badge number. She voluntarily surrendered her badge and the Police Division retired No. 455.
If you know of any information, artifacts, archives, or images regarding this officer or incident, please contact the Greater Cincinnati Police Museum at Memorial@Police-Museum.org.
© This narrative was revised on November 24, 2011 by Cincinnati Police Lieutenant Stephen R. Kramer (Retired), Greater Cincinnati Police Museum Executive Director. All rights are reserved to him and the Greater Cincinnati Police Museum.