Cleveland Division of Police, Ohio
End of Watch: Friday, April 26, 1974
Age: 36
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Badge Number: 2247
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: April 26, 1974
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Not guilty by reason of insanity
Patrolman Bill Shapiro was shot and killed by a sniper who had been shooting at traffic at Baldwin Reservoir at Fairhill Road.
Patrolman Shapiro and other officers had responded to the scene two previous times but were unable to locate the suspect. When they arrived the third time, the suspect ambushed them and shot Patrolman Shapiro using a shotgun. It was Patrolman Shapiro's 36th birthday.
The 21-year-old suspect was charged with Patrolman Shapiro's murder and found not guilty by reason of insanity and was remanded to a state hospital. He was denied a release on January 13, 1978. On March 30, 1982, he escaped but was recaptured the next day. As of 2016, he was in a mental hospital in Northfield.
Patrolman Shapiro was a United States Navy veteran and had served with the Cleveland Division of Police for five years. He was survived by his wife, four children, parents, and brother. One of his sons served with the Cleveland Police Department.
He is buried at Lakewood Park Cemetery in Rocky River, Cuyahoga County, Ohio.