Craig Allen Birkholz
Incident
Officer Craig Birkholz was fatally shot after he and another officer responded to a home on South Lincoln Avenue at approximately 6:00 a.m. for an emergency call.
When Officer Birkholz arrived, he and the second officer approached the home. A suspect opened fire from the second floor of the home, striking Officer Birkholz, the other officer, and a K9.
The suspect committed suicide during a standoff that followed the shooting.
Officer Birkholz was a United States Army Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom veteran and had served with the Fond du Lac Police Department for two years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, parents, and one brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WI-45C551B8- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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.
Police Officer Birkholz gave the Fond du Lac Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fond du Lac 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Craig Allen Birkholz served in the Army (2000â2005) before joining law enforcement.
Police Officer Craig Allen Birkholz is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In WI, 159 of 317 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50.2% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Fond du Lac Police Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Craig Allen Birkholz's cause is highlighted.
How Craig Allen Birkholz Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Craig Allen Birkholz is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Craig Allen Birkholz was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Fond du Lac Police Department are honored on badge.nw.


