Detective Sergeant William Kenneth Mortimer, age 43, was a dedicated officer of the Dayton Police Department in Ohio. On March 4, 1974, he responded to a call for assistance at an apartment complex where two suspects had barricaded themselves after robbing Potaskys' Jewelry Store. While on the scene, he noticed two young girls looking out of a door and immediately pushed them inside for their safety.
Unfortunately, as he did this, one of the suspects, an 18-year-old, emerged from his apartment and shot Sergeant Mortimer in the face with a .357 caliber handgun.
The suspects, aged 16 and 18, were apprehended and charged with capital murder. The 18-year-old gunman was convicted of one count of murder and sentenced to life in prison, while the 16-year-old was convicted of two counts of murder and also received a life sentence. The younger suspect was paroled in 1992, and the older one was paroled in 1983.
Sergeant Mortimer had served with the Dayton Police Department for 22 years and was a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He was survived by his wife and two sons. His death was a tragic loss for the community and the law enforcement family.
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