On February 16th, 1983, West Carrollton Police Patrolman Frederick J. Beard was pursuing an armed robbery suspect when he suffered critical injuries from getting struck by a vehicle.

After stopping an attempted drive-thru robbery he had pursued the suspect, whose car later crashed into a highway retaining wall and ended up in the left lane. He had parked behind it, and was just exiting his cruiser when the suspect fired a handgun and took off running down the emergency lane. Patrolman Beard fired back and gave chase. But that’s when a semi-truck—whose driver was trying to keep from hitting the stopped vehicles—swerved into the emergency lane and struck Beard from behind.

Frederick died of his injuries at the scene. The 21-year old shooter, who was shot and apprehended by fellow officers nearby, was later sentenced to 81 years.

Patrolman Beard was 35 years old at the time of his death, and had served with the West Carrollton Police Department for seven years. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, son, mother, and father.

Prior to joining the force Frederick had attended Wright State University. He was very popular within the department and throughout the community. He was widely known for always being able to make people laugh, and for how much he loved riding his bike and working in his garden. In honor of his ultimate sacrifice, West Carrollton’s former Slonaker Avenue was renamed Officer Fred Beard Way.