Phillip Droesch

Lima Police Department — Lima, OH

Felonious

End of Watch October 25, 1918

Age 38

The Vigil Panel 35 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Patrolman Phillip Droesch was shot and killed following the robbery of a pawn shop. The subject had exchanged shots with officers following the robbery but was able to escape. Patrolman Droesch was off duty but had been called in to help search for the suspect. He observed a man near Jackson Street and High Street who appeared to be staggering. Thinking the man was intoxicated and injured, Patrolman Droesch approached him to give him assistance. The subject suddenly pulled out a gun and shot Patrolman Droesch. The officer was transported to Lima City Hospital, where he died early the next morning. The 27-year-old suspect was apprehended and convicted of murdering Patrolman Droesch. He was committed to the Lima State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. He escaped on September 4, 1928, and again on January 7, 1945.

Survivors

Patrolman Droesch was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-4F36E17F
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 Droesch served with the Lima Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Lima community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Droesch.

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

Agency

Department Lima Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Lima, Allen County, OH

Platform Identity lpd.allen.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 25, 1918

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Patrolman Phillip Droesch 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 Lima Police Department, 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Lima Police Department

of 5 officers

100% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious