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Captain Jerome C. Poelking | Cleveland Division of Police, Ohio
Cleveland Division of Police, Ohio

Captain

Jerome C. Poelking

Cleveland Division of Police, Ohio

End of Watch: Monday, December 8, 1975

Biographical Info

Age: 56
Tour of Duty: 30 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Duty related illness
Date of Incident: December 5, 1975
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available

Captain Jerome Poelking died after contracting an illness as a result of being spat upon.

He and other officers had responded to a robbery call at 11802 Kinsman Road and, when they arrived, discovered the suspects holding 15 hostages in the basement. As Captain Poelking negotiated with the suspects, one of them spat on his face.

When Captain Poelking awoke the following day, he had a temperature of 104ยบ and had difficulty breathing. He was taken to a local hospital and died three days later from meningococcal meningitis, an inflammation of his brain and spinal cord.

Captain Poelking had served with the Cleveland Police Department for 30 years. He was survived by his wife and four children.