Incident
Patrolman Ernest Holbert died from complications of a gunshot wound sustained 15 years earlier.
Patrolman Holbert and another officer were attempting to arrest an intoxicated man in connection with an accident on Buckeye Road and East Boulevard. The man produced a handgun and opened fire on the officers. Although both officers were wounded, they returned fire and killed the suspect.
Patrolman Holbert was struck in the head by one of the rounds. The wound caused him to undergo four operations in which parts of his brain were removed as a result of bullet fragments. He died of complications from a combination of the initial wounds and the ongoing operations.
Patrolman Holbert had served with the Cleveland Police Department for 19 years. He was survived by his wife and eight children. Two of his brothers also served with the Cleveland Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and eight children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
NW-9H0Q-DVBP-3earlier record number BO-US-OH-35A2AC12- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Holbert gave the Cleveland Division of Police 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Holbert.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Cleveland Division of Police has lost 119 officers; 83 of them killed feloniously.
Ernest is one of 572 officers killed feloniously in OH, 57.7% of the 992 remembered there.
Ernest is one of 15,741 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.2% of the 27,543 remembered there.
Ernest is one of 17,629 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,910 remembered here.
33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1987, 1 officer at Cleveland Division of Police was killed feloniously, the 22nd heaviest of 57 years on record. The heaviest was 1919, with 4.
In 1987, 6 officers in OH were killed feloniously, the 21st heaviest of 154 years on record. The heaviest was 1916, with 17.
In 1987, 97 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1987, 117 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 50th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Ernest was 59. Of the 78 killed feloniously at Cleveland Division of Police whose age is recorded, half were between 29.3 and 44; the middle age was 34.5. Ernest had served 19 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Ernest was 59. Of the 552 killed feloniously in OH whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 46; the middle age was 38. Ernest had served 19 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Ernest was 59. Of the 14,215 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Ernest had served 19 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Ernest was 59. Of the 15,849 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Ernest had served 19 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
October holds 3.6% of these deaths at Cleveland Division of Police; September holds the most, 15.7%. Sundays: 8.4%.
October holds 8.4% of these deaths in OH; December holds the most, 9.6%. Sundays: 12.4%.
October holds 7.8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
October holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 69.7% of all 119 deaths at Cleveland Division of Police, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 4.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.7% of all 992 deaths in OH, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 6.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.2% of all 27,543 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,910 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 8.5% of these deaths.
His people
Cleveland Division of Police has 119 officers remembered here, Ernest among them.
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John Michael Kick
May 15, 1875
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William Hulligan
Feb 8, 1887
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Nicholas Sheehan
Sep 5, 1894
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John Shipp
May 6, 1900
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William L. Foulks
Sep 29, 1900
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Louis Weick
Dec 10, 1903
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James H. Stedman
Jan 25, 1905
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Herman Reimer
Jan 28, 1911
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Walter Chapman
Aug 22, 1911
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Edward Parker
Jun 19, 1912
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Leroy Bouker
Nov 27, 1912
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Albert Miller
Dec 3, 1913
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Charles Goetz May 6, 1916
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Henry Froelich
Sep 25, 1916
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Edward M. Meaney
Nov 29, 1916
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Elmer Glaefke Sep 12, 1917
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William G. Brown
Sep 29, 1917
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Alfred Ressler Aug 6, 1918
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Henry Ernst Loescher Oct 14, 1918
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Frank H. Renfert
Oct 15, 1918
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John Tomasch Oct 20, 1918
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Frederick Henry Liebler
Oct 29, 1918
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Frank Otto Stastny Nov 27, 1918
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Frank A. Ondrak
Dec 11, 1918
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William Armstrong
Mar 9, 1919
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Frank Moranz
Sep 26, 1919
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William C. Isaac
Dec 1, 1919
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Robert Shelton
Dec 7, 1919
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Walter J. Pruehs
Oct 18, 1920
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Albert Block
Feb 11, 1921
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August E. Dyke
Mar 24, 1921
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Elmer Sprosty
Apr 21, 1921
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Frank Koran
Nov 25, 1921
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Samuel Kilbane
Apr 19, 1923
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Dennis Griffin
May 11, 1923
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Roy R. Nightwine
May 11, 1924
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Frank Sugan
Jun 28, 1924
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August F. Arndt Dec 14, 1924
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Peter Fromm Feb 14, 1925
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Henry A. Richter
Feb 27, 1925
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Charles Frantz Apr 14, 1925
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John F. Saxton Feb 15, 1926
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William J. Borgman
Apr 20, 1926
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Richard White
Aug 4, 1927
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Albert Flemke
Mar 22, 1928
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Anthony Wieczorek
Sep 13, 1928
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Ernest L. Ford Sep 19, 1928
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Carl H. Sherman
Mar 6, 1929
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Edward Butler
Nov 3, 1929
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James F. Ryan
Jan 8, 1931
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John S. Buettner Aug 9, 1932
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Herman B. Pahler
Mar 8, 1933
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George C. Effinger
Mar 20, 1933
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Harold Beingesser
Jul 28, 1935
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Harry McCue
Jul 28, 1935
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Martin J. Carlin
Aug 3, 1935
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William Burmeister
Oct 20, 1935
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Joseph Ternansky
Apr 1, 1936
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Otto D. Mosholder
Dec 10, 1936
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Virgil T. Bayne
Dec 18, 1937
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Gerald N. Bode
Dec 18, 1937
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John J. Cleary
Jan 4, 1938
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Raymond H. Griffin
May 30, 1938
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Robert William Wehagen
Jul 8, 1938
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Louis Mlakar
Jul 21, 1938
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James Francis Goggin
Jan 13, 1939
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Adolph Norbert Jindra
Feb 24, 1939
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Clarence T. Smith Jun 6, 1939
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Otto J. Ziska
Mar 31, 1940
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James Goodwin May 4, 1942
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Patrick Ryan
Jan 14, 1944
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Forney L. Haas
Dec 8, 1951
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Eugene Stinchcomb
May 12, 1952
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William Hudec
Aug 30, 1955
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Warren Stainbrook
Aug 30, 1955
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Joseph John Haydu
May 19, 1956
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Edward Gustav Lentz
Dec 9, 1957
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Edgar Nagie
Mar 26, 1958
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Martin Mrugacz
Sep 29, 1960
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Arthur W. Guenther
Dec 19, 1961
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William J. Greller
Sep 18, 1964
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Chester Burmeister
Dec 23, 1964
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Frank Humr
Oct 29, 1965
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Steve J. Huber
May 11, 1967
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Louis Golonka
Jul 23, 1968
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Leroy Jones
Jul 23, 1968
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Willard J. Wolff
Jul 23, 1968
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Roy W. Buckner, Jr.
Nov 11, 1968
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Kenneth R. Houser
Apr 2, 1969
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John Apanites, Jr.
Apr 7, 1969
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Joseph Phillip Tracz, Jr.
Sep 28, 1970
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Tom Sam Hakaim
Apr 3, 1971
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William Nagy
May 14, 1971
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Frederick D. Vacha
Jun 20, 1973
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William Nathan Shapiro
Apr 26, 1974
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Phillip Patrick Maher
May 29, 1975
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Edward W. Murray, Jr.
Jul 3, 1975
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Jerome C. Poelking
Dec 8, 1975
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John S. Reese
Sep 2, 1976
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John L. Hubbell
Jun 4, 1979
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George Zicarelli
Sep 17, 1979
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Desmond Sherry
Jul 3, 1980
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Anthony Jerome Johnson
Oct 21, 1981
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Benjamin F. Grair, Jr.
Aug 5, 1983
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Stephen M. Kovach
Mar 11, 1984
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Ernest Cecil Holbert
Oct 25, 1987
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Thomas J. Smith
Mar 9, 1993
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Edward H. Claybrooks, Jr.
Dec 28, 1996
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Hilary S. Cudnik
Dec 30, 1996
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Robert James Clark, II
Jul 1, 1998
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Wayne A. Leon
Jun 25, 2000
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Jonathan James Schroeder
Aug 31, 2006
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Derek Wayne Owens
Mar 1, 2008
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Martin Arnold Stanton
Sep 27, 2010
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David J. Fahey, Jr.
Jan 24, 2017
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Vu X. Nguyen
Jul 6, 2018
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James Michael Skernivitz
Sep 3, 2020
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Shane Henry Bartek
Dec 31, 2021
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Jamieson Ritter
Jul 4, 2024
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 44-E
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Others Who Wore This Badge
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