On March 21st, 1991, Dayton Police Officer William S. (Steve) Whalen was attempting to arrest an armed suspect when he suffered critical injuries from getting shot.

Following a report of shots fired at a local motel, he and a fellow officer in another cruiser had pulled over the suspect’s pickup truck. Officer Whalen had parked right behind it, and was just exiting his cruiser when the suspect suddenly stuck an assault rifle through the truck’s rear window and opened fire. The officer behind him was hit first, but despite also getting shot, Whalen continued to return fire until he was hit again, twice in the head. The suspect then drove off but was apprehended nearby.

Steve died of his injuries the next day, on March 22nd, 1991. The wounded officer survived. The 32-year-old shooter was sentenced to life.

Officer Whalen was 38 years old at the time of his death, and had served with the Dayton Police Department for 15 years. He was survived by his mother and father.

Within the department, Steve was considered a prime example of community-based policing, who loved patrolling his beat, where he was very popular. Widely known as a gentle soul, he was very involved in his church where he had served as deacon, treasurer, and Sunday school bus driver. He was devoted to helping his elderly parents and working on his beloved cars. He and his fiancée were due to be married soon. In honor of his ultimate sacrifice, Dayton’s former U.S. 35 Hamilton-Wyoming Connector was renamed Steve Whalen Boulevard. And the department carries on his legacy through its annual Steve Whalen Memorial Policing Award.