Roll of Honor
Incident
Lieutenant Jerry Dragosin was shot and killed in the driveway of the police department. The suspect had gone to the police station in an attempt to recover a handgun that had been confiscated from him earlier in the week. When he arrived at the station, a dispatcher informed Lieutenant Dragosin that the man was there and in possession of another handgun. When Lieutenant Dragosin contacted the man, a struggle ensued. The suspect was able to gain control of Lieutenant Dragosin's service revolver and fatally shot him. As the suspect fled the scene, he encountered an off-duty officer, and the two exchanged shots. Both men were wounded in the exchange. The man continued to flee and led officers on a 50-mile pursuit into West Virginia, where he was finally taken into custody. The 30-year-old suspect was convicted of Lieutenant Dragosin's murder and originally sentenced to death. The death penalty was overturned, and he was sentenced to life. He was denied a commutation of his sentence in 2008. He will be eligible for parole in 2034. Lieutenant Dragosin was a United States Army Vietnam veteran and served with the Cambridge Police Department for 12 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-30ABE9B5- 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.
Lieutenant Dragosin gave the Cambridge Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cambridge 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
Jerry E. Dragosin served in the Other (1969â1972) before joining law enforcement.
Lieutenant Jerry E. Dragosin 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jerry E. Dragosin's cause is highlighted.
How Jerry E. Dragosin Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jerry E. Dragosin is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jerry E. Dragosin was killed by officer's handgun.