Roll of Honor

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Policeman

William Holly

Findlay Police Department — Findlay, OH

Felonious

End of Watch February 20, 1898

Age 27

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 14 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 2

Incident

Policeman William Holly was shot and killed while he and another officer chased two burglary suspects around 10:00 p.m. Policeman Holly and his partner witnessed three men breaking into a storefront five miles north of Finley. Once the subjects were in the building, the officers attempted to arrest the men. When the subjects fled, a pursuit began. One of the men opened fire on Policeman Holly, killing him. Two suspects were arrested and charged with murder. The suspect who shot Policeman Holly was sentenced to 20 years of hard labor.

Survivors

He was survived by his father and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-71ED813A
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

128 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Policeman Holly gave the Findlay Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Findlay community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Findlay Police Department

Location Findlay, OH

Platform Identity fpd.hancock.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 20, 1898

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentenced to 20 years

Policeman William Holly 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 Findlay Police Department, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Findlay Police Department

of 3 officers

33.3% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Holly's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How William Holly Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 20 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Holly is highlighted in Feb.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Holly was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Findlay Police Department are honored on badge.nw.