Dayton Police Department, Ohio
End of Watch: Tuesday, July 3, 1973
Age: 50
Tour of Duty: 23 years
Badge Number: 414
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 1, 1973
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Patrolman Daniel Bruns succumbed to his wounds when he was shot while attempting to break up a fight while off duty.
At 6:30 a.m., he was entering a bar that his friend owned at 522 Xenia Avenue at the same that his friend was attempting to throw out two men who were fighting. When Patrolman Bruns walked in, the friend identified him as a police officer and asked him to escort the men out. As he did so, one of the men pulled out a gun and shot him in the forehead.
Patrolman Bruns was transported to Miami Valley Hospital and succumbed to his wounds two days later.
The 19-year-old subject was arrested, convicted of second-degree murder, and sentenced to 15 years to life.
Patrolman Bruns had served with the Dayton Police Department for 23 years. He was survived by his wife, mother, two stepdaughters, a stepson, and three sisters.