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Leroy Jones
Agency patch
Lieutenant

Leroy Jones

Cleveland Division of Police — Cleveland, OH
Felonious
United States flag Ohio flag
End of Watch July 23, 1968
Age 47
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
The Vigil Panel 104 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 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

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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 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
Type Other
Location Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, 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

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Leroy is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1968, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Leroy was 47. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Leroy had served 25 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Cleveland Division of Police has 119 officers remembered here, Leroy among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Lieutenant Leroy Jones

Cleveland Division of Police · End of Watch July 23, 1968

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 43-W

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