Patrolman William Orma Sorrell

William Orma Sorrell

Patrolman William Sorrell was shot and killed while responding to an armed robbery in progress. The suspect was never apprehended.

At 10:00 PM on Tuesday, March 24, 1931, Patrolman Sorrell and his partner Patrolman William Kist, walked into a drugstore located at the corner of Betts and Linn Street in Cincinnati and unknowingly interrupted a robbery in progress. Two male suspects had just robbed the store of $70-$75 and were preparing to leave as the officers walked in. One of the suspects opened fire on the officers, striking Patrolman Sorrell in the forehead before he had a chance to reach for his weapon. The men ran out of the store with Patrolman Kist in pursuit, but were able to elude the officer.

Two men who were executed on August 14, 1933, for the murder of a bank cashier in Silverton, told Cincinnati detectives that they killed Patrolman Sorrell a few days before they were executed. The detectives said they answered questions in such a way that proved they murdered Patrolman Sorrell.

Patrolman Sorrell had been with the agency for four years and was survived by his wife and two sons.