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Arthur E. Sponsel
Agency patch
Patrolman

Arthur E. Sponsel

Hamilton Police Department — Hamilton, OH
Veteran → Felonious
United States flag Ohio flag
End of Watch April 12, 1937
Age 36
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
The Vigil Panel 73 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 6

Incident

Patrolman Arthur Sponsel was shot and killed when he interrupted three men burglarizing a restaurant on the 500 block of North Third Street.

All three suspects were arrested and charged with his murder. The shooter was sentenced to death and executed in the electric chair. The other two were sentenced to life.

Patrolman Sponsel was a United States Army World War I veteran and had served with the Hamilton Police Department for six years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-02AA9D3C
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 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 Sponsel gave the Hamilton Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Hamilton community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Hamilton Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Hamilton, Butler County, OH
Platform Identity hpd.butler.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 12, 1937
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 36
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Military Service

Arthur E. Sponsel served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Arthur E. Sponsel is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 57.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Hamilton Police Department, 7 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Hamilton Police Department
7
of 7 officers
100% Felonious
OH — Statewide
572
of 991 officers
57.7% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Arthur E. Sponsel's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Arthur E. Sponsel Compares

Age at Death
36
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
6
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Arthur E. Sponsel is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Arthur E. Sponsel was killed by gun; unknown type.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Military Service

Arthur E. Sponsel served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.

Visit Arthur E. Sponsel’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.