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Patrolman

Elmer Sprosty

Cleveland Division of Police — Cleveland, OH

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch April 21, 1921

Age 24

Tour of Duty 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 95 · Column 2 · Line 13 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Military Memorials 1 Also Remembered Department 118

Incident

Patrolman Elmer Sprosty was shot and killed while investigating gunshots he heard while on patrol on Scovill Street. When he went to investigate, he encountered a group of men running from the Goldberg's Cafe at 1421 Scovill. One of the men in the group opened fire, striking Patrolman Sprosty. After Patrolman Sprosty fell to the ground, the man went up to him and shot him two more times. Another nearby patrolman witnessed the incident and returned fire, wounding the shooter. All of the men were later apprehended; two were sentenced to life, one for first-degree murder and the other for second-degree murder. The cases of the remaining two suspects were nulled. On February 21, 1928, the 25-year-old suspect convicted of second-degree murder was burned to death in his cell. He purposely or accidentally set fire to his bed. Patrolman Sprosty was a United States Navy WWI veteran and had been with the Cleveland Division of Police for only six months. He was survived by his wife and his father, who was a Captain with the agency. He is buried in West Park Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and his father, who was a Captain with the agency.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Sprosty served with the Cleveland Division of Police.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Cleveland Division of Police

Type Other

Location Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH

Platform Identity cdpd.cuyahoga.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 21, 1921

Tour of Duty 6 mo

Age 24

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Military Service

Elmer Sprosty served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Elmer is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1921, 248 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Elmer was 24. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Elmer had served 0.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded