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 – 1950 – 1974
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.
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.
George W. Cassels - 1953
End of Watch: July 12, 1953
Rank: Officer Badge No. N/A
Age: 26 Years of Service: 2 years
Location of Death: 1515 16th Street, NW (Rear)
Duty Assignment: Third Precinct
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Lester G. Myers - 1958
End of Watch: November 13, 1958
Rank: Officer Badge No. N/A
Age: 22 Years of Service: 8 years
Location of Death: 2700 Connecticut Ave, NW
Duty Assignment: Motor Officer, Traffic Division
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Harold K. Shelton - 1959
End of Watch: May 3, 1959
Rank: Officer Badge No. N/A
Age: 22 Years of Service: 1 year
Location of Death: 7th and L Street, NW
Duty Assignment: Second Precinct
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Donald J. Brereton - 1960
End of Watch: January 7, 1960
Rank: Officer Badge No. 1609
Age: 31 Years of Service: N/A
Location of Death: 400 Florida Avenue, NW
Duty Assignment: 13th Precinct
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Terrell M. Dodson - 1960
End of Watch: April 17, 1960
Rank: Officer Badge No. 602
Age: 29 Years of Service: 5 years
Location of Death: 7th Street and Florida Avenue, NE
Duty Assignment: Motorcycle Officer, Traffic Division
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James Roche - 1962
End of Watch: June 30, 1962
Rank: Detective Sergeant Badge No. N/A
Age: 52 Years of Service: 20 years
Location of Death: U.S. Capitol
Duty Assignment: U.S. Capitol Detail
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Elmer L. Hunter - 1963
End of Watch: March 20, 1963
Rank: Officer Badge No. 1911
Age: 24 Years of Service: 1 year
Location of Death: 3109 Nichols Avenue, SE
Duty Assignment: 11th Precinct
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David C. Higginbotham - 1963
End of Watch: December 7, 1963
Rank: Officer Badge No. 875
Age: 23 Years of Service: 3 months
Location of Death: Alabama Avenue and 30th Street, SE
Duty Assignment: Training Academy, detailed to the annual Christmas detail
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Robert D. Handwerk - 1964
End of Watch: January 24, 1964
Rank: Officer Badge No. 2256
Age: 28 Years of Service: 3 years
Location of Death: 1364 Florida Avenue, SE
Duty Assignment: Ninth Precinct
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Martin I. Donovan - 1964
End of Watch: July 9, 1964
Rank: Officer Badge No. 58
Age: 28 Years of Service: 4 years
Location of Death: 1127 14th Street, NE
Duty Assignment: Second Precinct
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Marcus P. Willis - 1965
End of Watch: December 27, 1965
Rank: Officer Badge No. 521
Age: 26 Years of Service: 1 year
Location of Death: 4501 Benning Road, SE
Duty Assignment: Ninth Precinct Vice Squad
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Marvin L. Stocker - 1966
End of Watch: March 23, 1966
Rank: Officer Badge No. 2066
Age: 23 Years of Service: 8 months
Location of Death: 435 Hamilton Street, NW
Duty Assignment: Eighth Precinct
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Russell W. Ponton - 1967
End of Watch: May 2, 1967
Rank: Officer Badge No. 2236
Age: 29 Years of Service: 6 years
Location of Death: Randle Circle, SE
Duty Assignment: Motorcycle officer, Traffic Division
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Gilbert M. Silvia - 1967
End of Watch: November 25, 1967
Rank: Detective-Sergeant Badge No. 177
Age: 34 Years of Service: 11 years
Location of Death: 16th and Cocoran streets, NW
Duty Assignment: Third Precinct Detectives, CID
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Lawrence L. Dorsey - 1968
End of Watch: February 2, 1968
Rank: Officer Badge No. 704
Age: 28 Years of Service: 5 years
Location of Death: 308 62nd Street, NE
Duty Assignment: 14th Precinct
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Eugene I. Williams - 1968
End of Watch: February 27, 1968
Rank: Officer Badge No. 2367
Age: 31 Years of Service: 6 years
Location of Death: 700 Block of 12th Street, SE
Duty Assignment: Fifth Precinct
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Stephen A. Williams - 1968
End of Watch: July 2, 1968
Rank: Officer Badge No. 1827
Age: 21 Years of Service: 3 years
Location of Death: 1300 Block of Columbia Road, NW
Duty Assignment: Tenth Precinct
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Willie C. Ivery - 1968
End of Watch: November 15, 1968
Rank: Officer Badge No. 2011
Age: 26 Years of Service: 2 years
Location of Death: 6th Street and Massachusetts Avenue, SE
Duty Assignment: Ninth Precinct
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David C. Hawfield - 1969
End of Watch: July 14, 1969
Rank: Officer Badge No. 2116
Age: 23 Years of Service: 9 months
Location of Death: 8th and K streets, NE
Duty Assignment: Second Precinct
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Michael J. Cody - 1969
End of Watch: July 14, 1969
Rank: Officer Badge No. 2470
Age: 239 Years of Service: 1 year
Location of Death: 8th and K streets, NE
Duty Assignment: Second Precinct
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Allan L. Nairn - 1969
End of Watch: November 30, 1969
Rank: Officer Badge No. 65
Age: 47 Years of Service: 19 years
Location of Death: Delaware Avenue and D Street, NE
Duty Assignment: Traffic Division
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David H. Rose - 1971
End of Watch: February 20, 1971
Rank: Officer Badge No. 3549
Age: 23 Years of Service: 9 months
Location of Death: Montgomery County, MD
Duty Assignment: Second District
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Glen P. Fisher - 1971
End of Watch: March 10, 1971
Rank: Officer Badge No.
Age: 21 Years of Service: 10 months
Location of Death: 625 K Street, SE
Duty Assignment: Vice Officer, First District, 524053
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Jerrard F. Young - 1971
End of Watch: May 21, 1971
Rank: Officer Badge No. 2583
Age: 25 Years of Service: 2 years, 10 months
Location of Death: 3205 14th Street, NW
Duty Assignment: Old Clothes Unit, Fourth District
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William L. Sigmon - 1971
End of Watch: May 25, 1971
Rank: Officer Badge No. 755
Age: 34 Years of Service: 13 years
Location of Death: 5185 MacArthur Boulevard, NW
Duty Assignment: N/A
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Jerry Wayne Morris - 1971
End of Watch: December 4, 1971
Rank: Officer Badge No. 3332
Age: 22 Years of Service: 3 years
Location of Death: In front of Bolling Air Force Base, SE
Duty Assignment: 5th District
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Dana E. Harwood - 1972
End of Watch: September 25, 1972
Rank: Officer Badge No. 3059
Age: 23 Years of Service: 3 years
Location of Death: Harbor Docks
Duty Assignment: Harbor Unit, SOD
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Ronnie W. Hassell - 1972
End of Watch: December 2, 1972
Rank: Officer Badge No. 2615
Age: 20 Years of Service: 1 year
Location of Death: 29th and M streets, NW
Duty Assignment: 2nd District Sub-Station
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George D. Jones, Jr. - 1973
End of Watch: March 24, 1973
Rank: Officer Badge No. 1260
Age: 31 Years of Service: 3
Location of Death: 2428 18th Street, SE
Duty Assignment: 7th District
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Gail A. Cobb - 1974
End of Watch: September 20, 1974
Rank: Officer Badge No. 321
Age: 24 Years of Service: 1 year
Location of Death: 20th and L Street, NW
Duty Assignment: 2nd District
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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.