Substitute Patrolman Clifford L. Cornish

Clifford L. Cornish

Patrolman Clifford Cornish succumbed to gunshot wounds when he was shot while attempting to arrest a bootlegger and drug smuggler.

On September 13, Patrolman Cornish was walking the two-man beat alone because his partner had taken leave that day. A program was in effect at that time to assure each policeman one day off a month. Patrolman Cornish and his partner had been working on cleaning up the corner of Clark and Harriet Streets of its bootleggers and narcotics dealers. He attempted to clear the corner of several loungers.

Most of the loiterers moved on, but a bootlegger, drug peddler, and, at the time, an escaped prisoner from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, refused to comply. As Patrolman Cornish approached, the bootlegger swung at him, and Patrolman Cornish sidestepped the punch and knocked him to the ground. The bootlegger pulled a .38 caliber revolver and fired five times at Patrolman Cornish, striking him once through the visor of his cap just above his left eye. Patrolman Cornish's sidearm was still holstered. A bystander was shot in the left hip. The bootlegger ran down an alley and escaped. Patrolman Cornish was transported to General Hospital.

Patrolman Cornish died the next day, September 14, becoming the sixth officer killed in the Fifth District in five years.

They were able to apprehend the bootlegger and found the weapon used in the shooting of Patrolman Cornish, but the suspect was acquitted during trial.

Patrolman Cornish was a United States Army WWI veteran and had served with the Cincinnati Police Department for only three months. He was survived by his wife, father, brother, and step-brother.

He is buried at Vine Street Hill Cemetery.