Oliver P. Holderby
Agency patch
Patrolman

Oliver P. Holderby

Springfield Police Department — Springfield, OH
Felonious
End of Watch July 4, 1929
Age 38
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Badge DETECTIVE
The Vigil Panel 57 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Oliver Holderby was shot and killed as he and his partner attempted to question a man at the Arcade Hotel at East High Street and South Fountain Avenue at 2:30 am. The suspect immediately opened fire, killing Patrolman Holderby and wounding his partner. The suspect was wounded by return gunfire and was arrested a short time later when he went to a hospital for treatment. The suspect died from his gunshot wounds. Patrolman Holderby had served with the Springfield Police Department for seven years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-B9041375
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
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.
Patrolman Holderby gave the Springfield Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Springfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Holderby.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Springfield, Clark County, OH
Platform Identity spd.clark.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 4, 1929
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 38
Badge Number DETECTIVE
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Patrolman Oliver P. Holderby 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 Springfield Police Department, 4 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 44.4% of this agency's fallen.

Springfield Police Department
4
of 9 officers
44.4% Felonious
OH — Statewide
572
of 991 officers
57.7% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Oliver P. Holderby's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Oliver P. Holderby Compares

Age at Death
38
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
7
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Oliver P. Holderby is highlighted in Jul.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Oliver P. Holderby was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location