Incident
Patrolman Jon Birchem was killed in an automobile crash while chasing two speeding cars in Wood County. He lost control of his vehicle on the icy road surface of the Ohio Turnpike and struck a bridge pillar at the Route 795 overpass. The speeders were never apprehended. Patrolman Birchem had served with the Ohio State Highway for one year, assigned to the Swanton Post.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, mother, father, and grandmother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtqj56zr517ehns0md5jm- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Patrolman Birchem gave the Ohio State Highway Patrol 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the people of Ohio. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Birchem.
— 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.
Jon is one of 319 officers lost to accidents in OH, 32.1% of the 993 remembered there.
Jon is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Jon 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 1967, 1 officer at Ohio State Highway Patrol was lost to accidents, the 6th heaviest of 28 years on record. The heaviest was 1935, with 2.
In 1967, 4 officers in OH were lost to accidents, the 15th heaviest of 125 years on record. The heaviest was 1925, with 8.
In 1967, 73 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 38th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1967, 92 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 33rd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Jon was 22. 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. Jon had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 3.5 years.
Jon was 22. Of the 310 lost to accidents in OH whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 37. Jon had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Jon was 22. 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. Jon had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Jon was 22. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Jon had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
February holds 15.2% of these deaths at Ohio State Highway Patrol, more than any other month. Mondays: 15.2%.
February holds 6.3% of these deaths in OH; July holds the most, 12.2%. Mondays: 16.6%.
February holds 7.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.4%.
February holds 7.2% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 78.6% of all 42 deaths at Ohio State Highway Patrol, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 3% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 32.1% of all 993 deaths in OH, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 6% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 6.9% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 5.6% of these deaths.
His people
Ohio State Highway Patrol has 42 officers remembered here, Jon 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 51-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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