Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Frank Culp succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on May 3, 1934, when he and another officer responded to a bank robbery call at the First National Bank at the intersection of Main Street and Tiffin Street. The bank was being robbed by members of the Dillinger Gang. As the officers attempted to take cover behind an elevator, one of the suspects opened fire with a machine gun, striking Chief Culp in the chest. The suspects took several hostages, completed the bank robbery, and then fled the scene. Chief Culp was a United States Army Spanish American War veteran who served with the and had served with the Fostoria Police Department for at least 34 years, including seven years as the Chief of Police. He was survived by his wife and three daughters. Led by John Dillinger, the Dillinger Gang was a notorious group of Midwest bank robbers. Associates of the gang were responsible for the fatal shootings of 13 law enforcement officers in 1933 and 1934. Two infamous members of the gang, John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson, were shot and killed by law enforcement officers in separate incidents. The other gang members were either murdered by criminals, shot and killed by law enforcement officers, executed for their crimes, or sentenced to time in prison. Click here to see all the officers killed by members of the Dillinger Gang
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three daughters.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-OH-FF7F5075- Stewardship
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- 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.
Chief of Police Culp served with the Fostoria Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Fostoria 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Franklin Pierce Culp served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Chief of Police Franklin Pierce Culp 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Franklin Pierce Culp's cause is highlighted.
How Franklin Pierce Culp Compares
Offender Outcome
The Dillinger Gang
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Franklin Pierce Culp is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Franklin Pierce Culp was killed by rifle; machine gun.