Elmer Sprosty

Cleveland Division of Police — Cleveland, OH

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch April 21, 1921

Age 24

Tour of Duty 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 40 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 118

Incident

Patrolman Elmer Sprosty was shot and killed while investigating gunshots he heard while on patrol on Scovill Street. When he went to investigate, he encountered a group of men running from the Goldberg's Cafe at 1421 Scovill. One of the men in the group opened fire, striking Patrolman Sprosty. After Patrolman Sprosty fell to the ground, the man went up to him and shot him two more times. Another nearby patrolman witnessed the incident and returned fire, wounding the shooter. All of the men were later apprehended; two were sentenced to life, one for first-degree murder and the other for second-degree murder. The cases of the remaining two suspects were nulled. On February 21, 1928, the 25-year-old suspect convicted of second-degree murder was burned to death in his cell. He purposely or accidentally set fire to his bed. Patrolman Sprosty was a United States Navy WWI veteran and had been with the Cleveland Division of Police for only six months. He was survived by his wife and his father, who was a Captain with the agency. He is buried in West Park Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and his father, who was a Captain with the agency.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-05DD19D8
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 Sprosty served with the Cleveland Division of Police.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland 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

Department Cleveland Division of Police

Location Cleveland, OH

Platform Identity cdpd.cuyahoga.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 21, 1921

Tour of Duty 6 mo

Age 24

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to life

Military Service

Elmer Sprosty served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman Elmer Sprosty 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 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

of 119 officers

69.7% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious