Roll of Honor
Incident
Lieutenant Edward Lentz was shot and killed after stopping three robbery suspects in a home at 5616 Quimby Avenue. He was on patrol when he was flagged down by a citizen who informed him that three men had forced their way into his house and tied him and his wife up. The man was able to free himself and escaped from a window before flagging down Lieutenant Lentz. When Lieutenant Lentz arrived at the man's home the three suspects were leaving in a car. Lieutenant Lentz pulled the car over and called for backup. When the backup officers arrived they found Lieutenant Lentz mortally wounded. He had been shot by a .38 caliber handgun that had been stolen in the robbery. The suspect was convicted of murder and subsequently executed on February 19th, 1960. Lieutenant Lentz had served with the Cleveland Police Department for 31 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-0425C03C- 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
31 years. You could have gone home.
Lieutenant Lentz gave the Cleveland Division of Police 31 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Lentz.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant Edward Gustav Lentz 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 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 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Cleveland Division of Police, 83 of 119 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Edward Gustav Lentz's cause is highlighted.
How Edward Gustav Lentz Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1960
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Edward Gustav Lentz is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Edward Gustav Lentz was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
118 officers from Cleveland Division of Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
