Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer John Holmes succumbed to a gunshot wound he received on March 28, 1975, at the 200 block of Garden Street in Mount Holly. Mount Holly Officers were responding to a call about a man with a gun around 6:00 p.m. When Officer John Holmes and another officer arrived at the house, they approached from opposite sides, and the gunman fired at both of them, wounding Officer Holmes. Patrolman Aleshire approached the house in an unmarked patrol vehicle; he was shot as soon as he exited his vehicle. Officer Wurst, of the Hainesport Police Department, was providing backup but was struck by gunfire while trying to take cover. One of the officers, who suffered a gunshot wound to the knee, was able to escape the gunfire and called for assistance. Officer Holmes was transported to the Burlington County Memorial Hospital, where the bullet severed his spine, rendering him paralyzed until he succumbed to his wounds 17 years later. The suspect was apprehended after barricading himself in the home for over three hours. The mother of the 23-year-old suspect said he thought he was back in Vietnam. In 1977, the suspect was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed. He was still institutionalized in 2021. Officer Holmes was a United States Army veteran.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three sons, a brother, three sisters, and a grandchild.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-8B1801A7- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Holmes served with the Mount Holly Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Mount Holly community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John O. Holmes served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman John O. Holmes 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 NJ, 264 of 646 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40.9% of this state's fallen. That is 13.3 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Mount Holly Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John O. Holmes's cause is highlighted.
How John O. Holmes Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed to mental institution
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John O. Holmes is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John O. Holmes was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Mount Holly Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
