Roll of Honor
Lawrence Vernon Kipfinger
Incident
Auxiliary Police Officer Lawrence Kipfinger was shot and killed while attempting to intervene in a robbery in progress at the Lawson Dairy Store at 1235 East Hudson Street in Columbus. Auxiliary Officer Kipfinger was off duty when he heard a call about the robbery on his scanner. Realizing he was close to the store, he went to the location to offer assistance. As he entered the store, he was shot by the suspect, who was attempting to flee. The 16-year-old suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death on June 11, 1970. Two years later, the Ohio Supreme Court commuted his sentence to life. He was paroled in 1988. On October 19, 2009, he was arrested when he punched a woman who confronted him when he took her purse and cell phone from her car in Franklinton, Ohio. It was his 7th felony charge since his release. On December 10, 2010, he pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and was sentenced to five years in prison. Auxiliary Officer Kipfinger had served with the Columbus Police Department for 12 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-8914DA4A- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Auxiliary Police Officer Kipfinger gave the Columbus Division of Police 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Auxiliary Police Officer Kipfinger.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Auxiliary Police Officer Lawrence Vernon Kipfinger 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 Columbus Division of Police, 36 of 59 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Lawrence Vernon Kipfinger's cause is highlighted.
How Lawrence Vernon Kipfinger Compares
Offender Outcome
off duty
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lawrence Vernon Kipfinger is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Lawrence Vernon Kipfinger was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
58 officers from Columbus Division of Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
