Detective David Francis Bohlinger
(1949-2026)

Dave was born November 21, 1949 in Cincinnati to Forest Augustine “Boxie” and Frances Elizabeth (Sinnot) Bohlinger. He attended Norwood High School and participated in the Latin Club for all four years, graduating on May 29, 1968.

Dave started out his adult life in financial analytics. At some point, he changed his vocation to law enforcement, attending the Norwood Police Academy, graduating in November 1978, and joining the Norwood Police Department as a Police Officer. While on routine patrol at 5:55 a.m. on January 2, 1981, he found two men holding up a 7-11 Food Markte on Montgomery Road, with a note that read, “You have 45 seconds or less. Don’t try anything stupid or you’re all dead.” Both were arrested without incident. From March through July 1985, undercover Officer Bohlinger initiated, orchestrated, and completed a five-month operation focused on Harold’s Place on Montgomery Road, culminated in one of the largest busts in Norwood’s history including dozens of indictments for drug, liquor, and gambling violations by more than a dozen people, and citation of the bar for 40 liquor law violations. During the investigation, he garnered undercover assets from the Ohio Department of Liquor Control, area law enforcement agencies, and various Cincnnati Police districts to assist at opportune times. In October 1987, he participated in the arrest of a recently released exconvict for the sale of 200 and possession of almost 2000 LSD tablet made to look like candy.

In 1988 after the temporary demise of the Regional Enforcement of Narcotics Unit (RENU), smaller towns were compelled to come up with inovative initiatives to combat vice. Detective Bohlinger was hired by Woodlawn Police Department to establish and command the Valley Vice task force for Woodlawn, Elmwood, Arlington Heights, Lincoln Heights, Wyoming, and Deer Park. On October 31, 1988, they participated in a raid on the Southern Ohio Gold and Silver Exchange on Springfield Pike, arrested five gamblers, confiscated $4000 in cash, and seized 50 firearms, including at least one machinegun. On March 24, 1989 he arrested a couple selling bootleg liquor out of their home at 9000 block of Springfield Pike. After a two-month investigation of Iron Horsemen and Hells Angels Motorcycle Gange, on May 17, 1990 he made arrest for the sale of a machinegun, during which the fleeing felon fired shots.

Detective Bohling retired June 1, 1990 with a short, full, and impactful career. He moved to Union (now West Chester) Township, but he never forgot his roots. In December 2011, he purchased the 107-year-old Norwood First United Methodist Church just behind the Norwood Police Station to ensure that the landmark would not be destroyed. In 2008, he arranged for the original Norwood telephone switchboard to be returned to Norwood and donated to the Greater Cincinnati Police Museum. In July 2016, with Norwood being in a deficit, he offered to purchase ballistic vests for the Norwood Police Officers to replace those that were “expired.”

In 2023, he and his wife moved to Sebring, Florida.

Detective Bohlinger died on July 6, 2026 at the age of 76.

He is predeceased by his sister, Suzanne Jayne (Kramer) Spaulding. Detective Bohlinger is survived by his wife of 55 years, Betty B. Bohlinger; children, Sherry Lynn Walker and Jennifer Ruth Bollinger; grandchildren; and nephew, retired Norwood Police Chief William F. Kramer.

This obituary will be updated when more information is available.

_{© 2026 – All rights reserved to LT Stephen R. Kramer RET and the Greater Cincinnati Police Museum.}