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
Service Record
Incident Details
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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Paul Gisclon's cause is highlighted.
How John Paul Gisclon Compares
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.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Paul Gisclon was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Ashland County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
