Badge:  P479
Age: 35
Served 8 years
September 8, 1974 to September 8, 1982

September 8, 1982, was Officer Gary Weber’s 8th Anniversary on the Cincinnati Police Department.  During December 1976, Gary and 123 other officers were laid off in a budget crisis.  He was recalled to duty in August 1977.  Though he spent little more than seven years on duty, he had already received three commendations from the police chief and several letters of appreciation from citizens. 

As District Three third relief officers were leaving roll call, Police Officers Weber and Charles Klug were dispatched to a report of a suspicious auto at 2787 River Road.  When they arrived, they found the car unoccupied.  Both officers were standing on the driver’s side of the auto trying to record the serial number when, at 11:35 p.m., a highly intoxicated 35-year-old, Stephen James of 344 Resor, drove his Chevrolet Corvette at a high rate of speed inbound on River Road and into the officers, then the parked car, and finally into a utility pole. 

Officer Weber, who had been carried by the Corvette into the parked car and utility pole, was killed instantly.  When the Corvette was pulled away from the pole, Officer Weber was transported to University Hospital by Car 316 and pronounced dead at 3:30 a.m.  Sergeant George Bredestege went to Officer Weber’s home to notify his wife, Judy.  He was also survived by two children.  He is buried in St. Joseph’s New Cemetery.

Officer Klug, a SWAT team member and well respected officer, suffered massive injuries including two nearly detached legs.  Responding EMS personnel and fellow officers gave him little hope of survival.  Police Officer Stephen Kramer responded to Officer Klug’s home to notify his wife Vickie and take her to University Hospital to be with her husband.  He hovered just above death for weeks, but did survive.  His injuries were such that he was medically retired as a Police Officer.   He came back to work as a Police Technician and retired in 2005.  He continues to occasionally require surgeries, including on his legs, back, neck and a complete knee replacement in 1997.

Stephen James was convicted of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide and sentenced to 1½ years imprisonment.

The Cincinnati Police Division retired Police Officer Gary Weber’s Badge Number 479 during 1995

If you have further information, artifacts, or pictures of this officer, please contact the Museum Director at Director@GCPHS.com.