Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: Pennsylvania Incident Date: Tuesday, April 7, 1931 Weapon: Handgun; .45 caliber Offender: Guilty of second-degree murder
Captain John Holt succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained on April 7th, 1931, while confronting several trespassers on Erie Railroad property along the Perry Highway one mile south of Meadville, Pennsylvania.
He had taken the day off to celebrate his birthday when he was called by headquarters and informed of the trespassers in a hobo encampment. He went alone to tell the men to move along but was attacked and disarmed. One of the men shot him with a .45 caliber pistol before they all fled. Captain Holt was able to crawl to the nearby highway where he was picked up by a citizen and taken to a local hospital.
His condition worsened and he died on April 15th, 1931.
Several men were arrested. One was charged with Captain Holt's killing and was sentenced to 8 to 16 years for second-degree murder in Western Penitentiary.
Captain Holt was survived by his wife and four sons.
Survivors
Captain Holt was survived by his wife and four sons.
In Our Keeping
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- 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.
Captain Holt served with the Erie Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Holt.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Captain John W. Holt 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 Erie Railroad Police Department, 8 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John W. Holt's cause is highlighted.
How John W. Holt Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John W. Holt is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John W. Holt was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Erie Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
