Leroy Jones

Cleveland Division of Police — Cleveland, OH

Felonious

End of Watch July 23, 1968

Age 47

Tour of Duty 25 yrs

The Vigil Panel 104 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 118

Incident

Lieutenant Leroy Jones, Patrolman Louis Golonka, and Patrolman Willard Wolff were shot and killed during the Glenville Riots. Lieutenant Jones had served with the Cleveland Police Department for 25 years. He was survived by his wife and two daughters. The five days of riots began in the city's Glenville neighborhood when two civilian tow truck drivers, wearing uniforms similar to police uniforms, were shot in an ambush by heavily armed snipers while checking an abandoned car. Over 50 officers responded to the initial shooting call and were ambushed by heavily armed militants. A total of seven people were killed and 15 wounded in the ensuing gunfire. Patrolman Wolff was one of the first officers on the scene and was shot in the face by a high-powered rifle. Lieutenant Jones was shot and killed while on foot at the corner of East 124th and Auburndale. Patrolman Golonka was shot and killed when he and other officers pursued several of the snipers into an alley and exchanged gunfire with them. The leader of the militant group eventually turned himself in after 200 National Guard personnel were mobilized. The man was convicted and sentenced to death in the electric chair. Several of the other militants were arrested and convicted as well.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-973CBDB9
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Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

25 years. You could have gone home.
Lieutenant Jones gave the Cleveland Division of Police 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Jones.

— 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 July 23, 1968

Tour of Duty 25 yrs

Age 47

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; Semi-automatic

Offender Leader died in prison in 1978

Lieutenant Leroy Jones 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