Patrolman Granison P. Koehler

Granison P. Koehler

Patrolman Granison Koehler was shot and killed in a gun battle with four men whom the officers had pulled over in a stolen car on North High and Goodale Streets.

At 5:00 a.m., Patrolman Koehler called from the police box that he and his partner stopped the driver of a stolen vehicle, confiscated two guns, and arrested the four suspects. When he returned to the car, one of the men shot Patrolman Koehler three times and shot his partner once in the jaw. Both officers returned fire, but when the patrol wagon arrived, the suspects had fled.

Less than 24 hours later, police found one suspect dead from a gunshot wound in the stolen car, and they apprehended two others. The fourth suspect was arrested in Cleveland the next day.

The suspect who killed Patrolman Koehler was convicted of his murder and was executed in the electric chair on April 13, 1923. The other two were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Governor Frank Lausche pardoned one on January 26, 1955. The other suspect was allowed to work outside the prison on August 30, 1952. He never returned. At the time of the other suspect's pardon, he had not been recaptured.

Patrolman Koehler had served with the Columbus Division of Police for nine years. He was survived by his wife.