Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Glaefke was shot and killed as he and his partner searched three men for concealed weapons at Seager Avenue and East 86th Street at 2:05 am. As the plainclothes officers searched one of the men the other two produced handguns and opened fire, striking Patrolman Glaefke in the head, heart, and abdomen. The three men fled and were pursued by Patrolman Glaefke's partner. The three were eventually apprehended. One of the men was sentenced to life, the second was acquitted, and the third jumped bond and disappeared. The suspect who jumped bond, Tony Lombardo, resurfaced in 1925 as one of Chicago's most famous gangsters. He used his money and power to get the murder charges against him dropped. In September of 1928 he was shot and killed in Chicago. Police were unable to determine if his assassination was ordered by a rival gangster or was retaliation for Patrolman Glaefke's murder. The suspect who was sentenced to life was pardoned by Ohio Governor Vic Donahey in 1926. On April 2, 1930, his body was found in the gutter of an east side Cleveland street. He had been shot in the head.
Survivors
Patrolman Glaefke was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-7AA56972- 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 Glaefke served with the Cleveland Division of Police.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Glaefke.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Elmer Glaefke 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 97,772 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 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. Elmer Glaefke's cause is highlighted.
How Elmer Glaefke Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Elmer Glaefke is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Elmer Glaefke was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
118 officers from Cleveland Division of Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
