Roll of Honor
Vernon L. Holzer
Incident
Location: Kansas Incident Date: Wednesday, July 25, 1923 Weapon: Handgun Offender: Sentenced to up to five years
Special Officer Vernon Holzer succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained one month earlier as he confronted a young hobo riding on the roof of a boxcar on freight train No. 397.
The train was leaving Wichita, on route to Arkansas City, Kansas, when the shooting occurred.
Officer Holzer, a rider on the train, found the suspect sitting on top of the train. He told the youth it would be necessary to purchase a ticket at Mulvane if he wished to ride farther. The suspect asked him how much it would be to Arkansas City and after being told, reached into his pocket as if to produce the necessary fare. Without warning, he began firing at Officer Holzer with a revolver. The first shot entered the officer's jaw, shattering the bone and blinding him. The youth then fired three times at the wounded man's head. Officer Holzer fired four times wildly to attract the attention of the crew and dropped flat on the car. He was rushed to the hospital at Mulvane. The suspect was charged with first-degree murder and was ultimately sentenced to three to five years in prison.
A month later Officer Holzer died following two hemorrhages within 24 hours.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and infant son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-0CB89664- 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.
Special Officer Holzer served with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Topeka community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Holzer.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Officer Vernon L. Holzer 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 KS, 237 of 335 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.7% of this state's fallen. That is 16.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department, 24 of 32 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Vernon L. Holzer's cause is highlighted.
How Vernon L. Holzer Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to up to five years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Vernon L. Holzer is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Vernon L. Holzer was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
31 officers from Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
