Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Gary Yost was shot and killed while moonlighting at the Shipper's Dispatch Truck Terminal at 999 Swartz Road in Akron. Around 1:30 a.m., he heard a disturbance and witnessed five subjects stealing tires from the company. As he attempted to apprehend the subjects, a struggle ensued. One suspect gained control of his service weapon and shot him in the back. All five suspects were apprehended. Two, ages 23 and 24, were tried and acquitted. Three, ages 22, 29, and 31, were convicted of murder and sentenced to life. The oldest was retried in 1978 and acquitted. The 29-year-old was granted a new trial in 1982 and released. The youngest was paroled in 1991 and sent back to prison in 1994 for violating his parole. He was rereleased in 2001 and returned to prison a year later for committing a drug offense. Released a third time in 2004, he was again sent back to prison in 2008 for another drug violation. He was denied parole in March 2012 and 2022. His next parole hearing will be in January 2029. Officer Yost was a United States Army Korean War veteran and served with the Akron Police Department for 16 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-127AD2AE- 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.
Officer Yost gave the Akron Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Akron 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
Gary A. Yost, Sr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Officer Gary A. Yost, Sr. 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 Akron Police Department, 16 of 28 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gary A. Yost, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Gary A. Yost, Sr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gary A. Yost, Sr. is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gary A. Yost, Sr. was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
27 officers from Akron Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
