Craig Allen Birkholz
Agency patch
Police Officer

Craig Allen Birkholz

Fond du Lac Police Department — Fond du Lac, WI
Felonious Veteran →
End of Watch March 20, 2011
Age 28
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 160 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Craig Birkholz was fatally shot after he and another officer responded to a home on South Lincoln Avenue at approximately 6:00 a.m. for an emergency call.

When Officer Birkholz arrived, he and the second officer approached the home. A suspect opened fire from the second floor of the home, striking Officer Birkholz, the other officer, and a K9.

The suspect committed suicide during a standoff that followed the shooting.

Officer Birkholz was a United States Army Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom veteran and had served with the Fond du Lac Police Department for two years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, parents, and one brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-WI-45C551B8
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.
Police Officer Birkholz gave the Fond du Lac Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fond du Lac community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Location Fond du Lac, WI
Platform Identity fdlpd.fonddulac.wi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 20, 2011
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 28
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Committed suicide

Military Service

Craig Allen Birkholz served in the Army (2000–2005) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Police Officer Craig Allen Birkholz 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 WI, 159 of 317 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50.2% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Fond du Lac Police Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Fond du Lac Police Department
3
of 4 officers
75% Felonious
WI — Statewide
159
of 317 officers
50.2% 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. Craig Allen Birkholz'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 Craig Allen Birkholz Compares

Age at End of Watch
28
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Committed suicide

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Craig Allen Birkholz is highlighted in Mar.

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. Craig Allen Birkholz was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location