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Incident
Sergeant Dale Holcomb and Trooper Joshua Risner were killed in a vehicle crash near the intersection of Jackson Pike and Mitchell Road in Gallia when their patrol car went out of control on the rain-slicked road and collided with another vehicle.
Sergeant Holcomb had just been picked up from home to begin his shift by Trooper Risner, who was ending his shift. It is believed that the troopers heard a call from a third trooper, who was transporting his unconscious infant son to a nearby hospital and were responding to the area to assist him. The patrol car went out of control on the rain-slicked road and collided with a vehicle driving in the opposite direction. The driver of the other car was also killed.
Sergeant Holcomb had served with the Ohio Highway Patrol for 21 years and was assigned to the Gallipolis Patrol Post.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
21 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Holcomb gave the Ohio State Highway Patrol 21 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the people of Ohio. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Holcomb.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Ohio State Highway Patrol has lost 42 officers; 33 of them lost to accidents.
Dale is one of 319 officers lost to accidents in OH, 32.1% of the 993 remembered there.
Dale is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Dale is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2006, 2 officers at Ohio State Highway Patrol were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 2006, 4 officers in OH were lost to accidents, the 15th heaviest of 125 years on record. The heaviest was 1925, with 8.
In 2006, 68 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 54th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2006, 80 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 57th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Dale was 45. Of the 33 lost to accidents at Ohio State Highway Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 25 and 34; the middle age was 28. Dale had served 21 years; the middle length of service was 3.5 years.
Dale was 45. Of the 310 lost to accidents in OH whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 37. Dale had served 21 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Dale was 45. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Dale had served 21 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Dale was 45. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Dale had served 21 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
September holds 15.2% of these deaths at Ohio State Highway Patrol; February holds the most, 15.2%. Thursdays: 21.2%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths in OH; July holds the most, 12.2%. Thursdays: 14.4%.
September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 78.6% of all 42 deaths at Ohio State Highway Patrol, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 32.1% of all 993 deaths in OH, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Ohio State Highway Patrol has 42 officers remembered here, Dale among them.
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John F. Best
Jun 17, 1935
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LeRoy S. Bedell
Aug 20, 1935
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James E. Ivory
Jan 7, 1936
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Charles W. Timberlake
Aug 7, 1936
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Karl E. Bushong
Jun 7, 1937
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George A. Conn
Sep 27, 1937
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Charles G. Cannon
Jan 1, 1938
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John G. Hough
Dec 3, 1940
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Paul L. McManis
Sep 28, 1941
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John E. Ruch
Mar 4, 1942
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Vance M. Andrews
Nov 21, 1945
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James P. Gardner
Feb 28, 1948
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Harry D. Grimes
Jun 8, 1952
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James A. Fredericka
May 8, 1953
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Earl W. Casterline
Oct 19, 1953
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Frank J. Hossler
Sep 22, 1956
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Robert E. Karsmizki
Mar 31, 1957
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Ernest E. Cole
Oct 3, 1964
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Jon D. Birchem
Feb 27, 1967
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Harold K. Hanning
Aug 6, 1970
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James A. Kirkendall
Oct 28, 1970
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Joel F. Miller
Dec 6, 1971
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Carl L. Thrush
Feb 6, 1972
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William J. Keller
Oct 14, 1972
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David L. Sterner
Feb 25, 1973
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Jerry Ray Neff
Jan 30, 1974
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Edward G. Moore
Jul 23, 1976
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Charles V. Vogel, Jr.
Jan 24, 1980
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William R. Bender
Nov 20, 1982
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Jody S. Dye
Jul 5, 1985
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Wendy G. Everett
Aug 5, 1988
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Kenneth A. Maloney
Jul 28, 1990
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James R. Gross
Jan 19, 1996
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Robert Perez, Jr.
May 15, 2000
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Frank Galvan Vazquez
Nov 6, 2001
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Dale Rodney Holcomb
Sep 28, 2006
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Joshua Patrick Risner
Sep 28, 2006
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Jack P. Holland, II
Aug 21, 2007
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Andrew C. Baldridge
Feb 4, 2010
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Michael Allyn Paris, Sr.
Aug 1, 2012
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Kenneth V. Velez
Sep 15, 2016
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Nicholas P. Cayton
Oct 16, 2025
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 48-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
41 officers from Ohio State Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
