Prev Next
Special Officer

Vernon L. Holzer

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department — Topeka, KS
Felonious
United States flag Kansas flag
End of Watch August 21, 1923
Age 30
The Vigil Panel 45 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 31

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
neuraspine_01krbxtntg7nkgbcrrwn4wb5yf
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Vernon. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

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

Department Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Topeka, Shawnee County, KS
Platform Identity atsfrpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 21, 1923
Age 30
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
  4. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1923, 199 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 14th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Vernon was 30. 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.

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

When

August holds 8.9% 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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department has 32 officers remembered here, Vernon among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Special Officer Vernon L. Holzer

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department · End of Watch August 21, 1923

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 24-W

↑