Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Ernest Holbert died from complications of a gunshot wound sustained 15 years earlier.
Patrolman Holbert and another officer were attempting to arrest an intoxicated man in connection with an accident on Buckeye Road and East Boulevard. The man produced a handgun and opened fire on the officers. Although both officers were wounded, they returned fire and killed the suspect.
Patrolman Holbert was struck in the head by one of the rounds. The wound caused him to undergo four operations in which parts of his brain were removed as a result of bullet fragments. He died of complications from a combination of the initial wounds and the ongoing operations.
Patrolman Holbert had served with the Cleveland Police Department for 19 years. He was survived by his wife and eight children. Two of his brothers also served with the Cleveland Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and eight children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-35A2AC12- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Holbert gave the Cleveland Division of Police 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Holbert.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Ernest Cecil Holbert 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ernest Cecil Holbert's cause is highlighted.
How Ernest Cecil Holbert Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ernest Cecil Holbert is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ernest Cecil Holbert was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
118 officers from Cleveland Division of Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
