John Paul Gisclon
Agency patch
Lieutenant

John Paul Gisclon

Felonious Veteran
End of Watch January 14, 1995
Age 47
Tour of Duty 22 yrs
Badge 08
The Vigil Panel 141 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Lieutenant John Gisclon was shot and killed after stopping a suspicious man walking along Route 250 at 3 am. While working a nearby breaking and entering the case, Lieutenant Gisclon had stopped the man, suspecting he was a second suspect in the break-in. Before approaching the man, Lieutenant Gisclon called for backup; however, when the Ohio Highway Patrol Trooper arrived, he did not see Lieutenant Gisclon and was ambushed by the suspect and shot twice. The trooper was able to return fire, and after a hand-to-hand fight, the suspect was shot and killed. The trooper found Lieutenant Gisclon lying in the roadway unconscious. Lieutenant Gisclon was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. It was later determined that Lieutenant Gisclon's death was not at all connected to the earlier burglary but that his killer did have a history of mental illness. Lieutenant Gisclon was a United States Army Vietnam veteran who had served with the Ashland County Sheriff's Office for 22 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-E511E7DB
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.
Lieutenant Gisclon gave the Ashland County Sheriff's Office 22 years.
Thank you for your service to the Ashland 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

Location Ashland, OH
Platform Identity acso.ashland.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 14, 1995
Tour of Duty 22 yrs
Age 47
Badge Number 08
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Shot and killed

Military Service

John Paul Gisclon served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Lieutenant John Paul Gisclon 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 Ashland County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Ashland County Sheriff's Office
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
OH — Statewide
572
of 991 officers
57.7% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Paul Gisclon's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How John Paul Gisclon Compares

Age at End of Watch
47
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
22
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Paul Gisclon is highlighted in Jan.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Paul Gisclon was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Ashland County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.