Fallen Officers From the 1900 - 1924

View our list of fallen officers from the DC Metropolitan Police Department.

Washington DC Metropolitan Police History - Honor a Fallen Officer

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has been serving the District of Columbia for more than 160 years.  Until the creation of the MPD by President Abraham Lincoln, the city had only an auxiliary watch with one captain and 15 policemen. President Lincoln personally dispatched an emissary to New York City to become familiar with their system, which had been based on the world-acclaimed Metropolitan London PD.  The knowledge gained from this study led to the creation of the MPD on August 6, 1861.  Over the years, the MPD has grown in size, diversity and expertise.  As the police force for the Nation’s Capital, it has protected the city, its citizens and visitors through many historic events and social changes.  During that time, 125 officers have died in the line of duty.  Honor these Fallen Officers by learning about their stories below.

Fallen Officers 1900 – 1924

Click on each MPDC officer below (minus symbol to the right of the name) to see newspaper accounts of the circumstances of their passing.

Articles include officers killed in the line of duty, some of them Medal of Valor recipients, and are largely from Washington Post newspaper articles. This information has been compiled to bring attention to our rich police history. The legacy of our officers’ heroism, sacrifice, professionalism and dedication should instill a sense of pride in ball who wear the badge.  We honor these outstanding individuals who will live on as long as they are remembered. It is our duty to remember. Honor A Fallen Officer and learn about their story.

The Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Washington, DC Police Memorial & Museum would like to express its gratitude to Dave Richardson MPD/Ret. for compiling this research.

John Jacob Smith - 1904

End of Watch: July 7, 1904
Rank: Officer, Badge No. 93
Age: 62  Years of Service:  34 years
Location of Death: Aqueduct Bridge (2D)
Duty Assignment: Seventh Precinct
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William E. Yetton - 1908

End of Watch: November 9, 1908
Rank: Officer, Badge No. 384
Age: 43    Years of Service: 16
Location of Death: Benning Road and 21st Streets, NE
Duty Assignment: Ninth Precinct
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William H. Mathews - 1909

End of Watch: March 5, 1909
Rank: Captain, Badge No. 234
Age: 53   Years of Service: 23
Location of Death: Fifth Precinct Station House
Duty Assignment: Captain, Fifth Precinct
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William C. Farquhar - 1913

William Charles FarquharEnd of Watch: October 22, 1913
Rank: Private  Badge No. N/A
Age: 46   Years of Service: 15 years
Location of Death: Potomac Street near M Street, NW
Duty Assignment: Seventh Precinct
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Eugene C. Smith - 1910

End of Watch: January 1, 1910
Rank: Officer, Badge No. N/A
Age: 47  Years of Service: 7 years
Location of Death: 14th & U Streets, NW
Duty Assignment: N/A
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Willie R. Gawen - 1915

End of Watch: March 2, 1915
Rank: Officer, Badge No.  N/A
Age: 31  Years of Service: 4 years
Location of Death: 7th and Q Streets, NW
Duty Assignment:  Second Precinct
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David T. Dunigan - 1918

David DuniganEnd of Watch: May 21, 1918
Rank: Lieutenant    Badge No. 63
Age: 63    Years of Service: 43
Location of Death: 1400 Carrollburg Place, SW
Duty Assignment: Fourth Precinct
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John A. Conrad - 1918

End of Watch: May 21, 1918
Rank: Officer, Badge No. N/A
Age: 35   Years of Service: 13 years
Location of Death: 76 I Street, NE
Duty Assignment: Fifth Precinct
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Lester M. Kidwell - 1918

Lester M. KidwellEnd of Watch: July 11, 1918
Rank: Officer, Badge No. N/A
Age: 33   Years of Service: 7 months
Location of Death: Montana and Oates Streets, NE
Duty Assignment: Third Precinct
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Harry Wilson - 1919

End of Watch: July 21, 1919
Rank: Detective  Badge No. 622
Age: 29  Years of Service: 3
Location of Death: 220 G Street, NW
Duty Assignment: Detective Bureau
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Isaac Wolf Halbfinger - 1919

End of Watch: July 22, 1919
Rank: Auxiliary Officer, Badge No. N/A
Years of Service: N/A
Location of Death: 9th & M streets, NW
Duty Assignment: Second Precinct
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James E. Armstrong - 1919

End of Watch: December 20, 1919
Rank: Detective   Badge No. 610
Age: 40    Years of Service: 16
Location of Death: Union Station
Duty Assignment: Headquarters Detective Bureau
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Oscar A. McKimmie - 1920

End of Watch: January 17, 1920
Rank: Officer, Badge No. N/A
Age: 27  Years of Service: 3
Location of Death: 1216 10th Street, NW
Duty Assignment: Second Precinct
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Preston E. Bradley - 1921

Preston E. BradleyEnd of Watch: February 21, 1921
Rank: Officer, Badge No. N/A
Age: 31 Years of Service: 3 years
Location of Death: 7th and O streets, NW
Duty Assignment: Second Precinct
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Samuel C. Hayden - 1921

Samuel Carey HaydenEnd of Watch: February 27, 1921
Rank: Officer, Badge No. N/A
Age: 43   Years of Service: 11 years
Location of Death: 948 Westminster Street, NW
Duty Assignment: Eighth Precinct
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George D. Chinn - 1921

End of Watch: October 20, 1921
Rank: Officer, Badge No. 678
Age: N/A  Years of Service: 3
Location of Death: 1148 Lingers Court, NW
Duty Assignment: Third Precinct
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Edmund P. Keleher - 1922

End of Watch: January 10, 1922
Rank: Officer  Badge No. 372
Age: 62  Years of Service: 30
Location of Death: 7th Street and Virginia Avenue, SW
Duty Assignment: Fourth Precinct
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Frederick G. Stange - 1923

End of Watch: February 28, 1923
Rank: Officer   Badge No. 436
Age: 59 Years of Service: 30+
Location of Death: Maine Avenue and 4th Street, SW
Duty Assignment: Fourth Precinct
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John W. Purcell - 1923

End of Watch: October 17, 1923
Rank: Officer, Badge No. 656
Age: N/A  Years of Service: 20 years
Location of Death: Third Street and Virginia Avenue, SW
Duty Assignment: Fourth Precinct
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Raymond C. Leisinger - 1924

End of Watch: August 28, 1924
Rank: Officer  Badge No.  N/A
Age: 25   Years of Service: 2 months
Location of Death: 9 I Street, NE
Duty Assignment: Second Precinct
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Rest easy, sleep well my brother.
Know the blue line has held, your job is done.
Rest easy, sleep well.
Others have taken up where you fell.
The blue line has held.
Peace, peace and farewell…
Author unknown.
(“blue” added to the original)

Honor MPD Fallen Officers by Making a Donation to Our Memorial

Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Memorial & Museum gratefully appreciates and accepts donations in any amount. We are a 501(c)(3) organization operating under EIN 46-1976045; therefore your donations are tax deductible. Because we have no paid staff nearly 100% of your donation goes to help build the Memorial and Museum.

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