Cincinnati Police Department, Ohio
End of Watch Tuesday, March 24, 1931
Add to My HeroesWilliam 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.
Bio
- Age 28
- Tour 4 years
- Badge 57
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Gun; Unknown type
- Offender Executed for another murder.
Most Recent Reflection
View all 8 ReflectionsNEVER FORGET! On behalf of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation, we honor the dedicated service and ultimate sacrifice of Patrolman William Orma Sorrell of the Cincinnati Police Department, Ohio and the additional 56 American Peace Officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on this date in history.
Superintendent Joe Morbitzer
Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation
March 24, 2020
Recent LODD Deaths

Corrections Officer IV Vicky James
Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division, TX
EOW: February 10, 2021

Corrections Officer IV Tawiwo Obele
Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division, TX
EOW: February 16, 2021

Officer Genaro Guerrero
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - Office of Field Operations, US
EOW: February 15, 2021

Chief of Police Tony M. Jordan
Middleburg Borough Police Department, PA
EOW: January 13, 2021

Lieutenant Frank Arnold
California Department of Developmental Services - Office of Protective Services, CA
EOW: January 22, 2021

Natural Resources Officer Jason Lagore
Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Division of State Parks and Watercraft, OH
EOW: February 23, 2021

Lieutenant Eugene Lasco
Indiana Department of Correction, IN
EOW: February 21, 2021

Police Officer Horacio Dominguez
Miccosukee Tribal Police Department, TR
EOW: February 21, 2021

Special Agent Robert Allan Mayer, Jr.
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - Office of Professional Responsibility, US
EOW: January 30, 2021