Otto D. Mosholder
Agency patch
Detective

Otto D. Mosholder

Cleveland Division of Police — Cleveland, OH
Felonious
End of Watch December 10, 1936
Age 46
Tour of Duty 19 yrs
Badge 144
The Vigil Panel 72 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Otto Mosholder succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained 19 years earlier when he was shot several times while assisting another officer at Woodland Avenue and 22nd Street. He noticed the officer following two men who were pushing a push-cart. As he approached the scene to back up the other officer, the other officer began lifting the cover of the push-cart to view its contents. At that point, the two suspects both produced revolvers and opened fire on both officers, striking Detective Mosholder several times. Both suspects fled, and neither was ever apprehended. Detective Mosholder returned to work two months later. Throughout the years, he suffered from several illnesses due to his wounds. After 19 years, he went to the hospital for problems with his shoulder and succumbed to an infection in his wound. Detective Mosholder had served with the Cleveland Division of Police for over 19 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, and granddaughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-24ADE071
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.
Detective Mosholder gave the Cleveland Division of Police 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Mosholder.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Cleveland, OH
Platform Identity cdpd.cuyahoga.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 10, 1936
Tour of Duty 19 yrs
Age 46
Badge Number 144
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Detective Otto D. Mosholder 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 Cleveland Division of Police, 83 of 119 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.7% of this agency's fallen.

Cleveland Division of Police
83
of 119 officers
69.7% 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. Otto D. Mosholder's cause is highlighted.

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

How Otto D. Mosholder Compares

Age at Death
46
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
19
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Otto D. Mosholder is highlighted in Dec.

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. Otto D. Mosholder was killed by handgun.

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

Incident Location