Memorializing America's `domestic soldiers' - National Peace Officers Memorial Day
Richard KolbNational Peace Officers Memorial Day is commemorated May 15. This year, 478 officers' names will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. Some 226 were killed in the line of duty in 2001. Some of the remainder died as long ago as the 1800s. This will bring the grand total to 15,925 officers. Their deaths date back to that of Deputy Sheriff Isaac Smith, shot to death on May 17, 1792, in New York City. As a tribute to all their sacrifices, VFW magazine offers this symbolic memorial listing of the deadliest incidents in American law enforcement history.
Multiple Fatality Law Enforcement Incidents
Felonious Actions Resulting in Three or More Officer Deaths (in
descending order)
# KILLED DATE PLACE AGENCY
60 9/11/200 New York City NYPD (23) and
Port Authority (37)
13 9/14/1874 New Orleans New Orleans M.P.D.
10 6/15/1881 Moab, Utah Blue Mountain and
Colorado Posses
9 11/24/1917 Milwaukee, Wis. Milwaukee P.D.
8 4/15/1872 Tahlequah, Okla. U.S. Marshals Service
8 4/19/1995 Oklahoma City Customs Service,
Secret Service,
HUD, DEA
7 5/4/1886 Chicago Chicago P.D.
6 12/15/1890 Standing Rock Bureau of Indian
Reservation, Affairs Law
S.D. Enforcement Div.
6 4/7/1902 Tuscumbia, Ala. Colbert Co. S.D.
6 1/2/1932 Springfield, Mo. Greene Co. S.D. and
Springfield P.D.
5 (1) 8/23/1917 Houston Houston P.D.
5 (2) 1/7/1973 New Orleans New Orleans P.D.
4 (3) 7/13-18/1863 New York City New York P.D.
4 3/14/1873 Lampasas, Texas Texas State Police
4 5/1/1885 Delaware Bend, U.S. Marshals Service
Okla.
4 6/17/1933 Kansas City, Mo. KC (Mo.) P.D., FBI
and McAlester
(Okla.) P.D.
4 9/20/1948 Kansas City, Mo. Kansas City (Mo.)
P.D.
4 (4) 7/23/1968 Cleveland Cleveland P.D.
4 4/6/1970 Newhall, Calif. California Highway
(I-5) Patrol
4 2/28/1993 Waco, Texas Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco & Firearms
3 1/17/1887 Eufaula, Okla. U.S. Marshals Service
3 9/1/1893 Ingalls, Okla. U.S. Marshals Service
3 10/21/1904 St. Louis St. Louis P.D.
3 2/10/1918 Galiuro Mts., Graham Co. S.D.
Ariz.
3 5/21/1918 Washington, D.C. Metropolitan P.D. and
Charles Co. (Md.)
S.D.
3 (5) 8/31/1921 Blair, W.Va. Logan Co. S.D.
3 8/7/1927 Atlantic Ocean, Coast Guard (2) and
off Ft. Secret Service (1)
Lauderdale, Fla.
3 1/2/1928 Tendoy, Idaho Lemhi Co. S.D.
3 5/28/1955 Ocala, Fla. Ocala P.D. (1) and
Marion Co. S.D. (2)
3 7/25/1974 Dewar, Okla. (1) Henryetta (Okla.)
and Schulter, P.D.
Okla. (2)
3 4/1/1976 Miami, Fla. Metro-Dade P.D.
3 7/9/1987 Inkster, Mich. Inkster P.D.
3 12/21/1988 Lockerbie, Diplomatic Security
Scotland Service, Office of
Special
Investigation
3 12/10/1991 California, Mo. Cooper, Miller and
Maniteau Co. S.D.
3 11/22/1994 Washington, D.C. Metropolitan P.D.,
FBI (2)
3 5/19/1998 Tampa, Fla. (2) Tampa P.D. and
and Pasco Co., Florida Highway
Fla. (1) Patrol
3 10/12/1999 Pleasanton, Texas Texas D.P.S. (1) and
Atascosa Co. S.D. (2)
# KILLED DATE PLACE INCIDENT
60 9/11/2001 New York City Bin Laden Terrorist
Attack on World
Trade Center
13 9/14/1874 New Orleans "Battle of Liberty
Place"
10 6/15/1881 Moab, Utah Shoot-out with Ute
Horse Thieves at
Pinhook Draw
9 11/24/1917 Milwaukee, Wis. Anarchist Bombing of
Police HQ
8 4/15/1872 Tahlequah, Okla. Shoot-out with
Cherokees known as
"Going Snake
Massacre"
8 4/19/1995 Oklahoma City Terrorist Bombing
(McVeigh)
7 5/4/1886 Chicago Haymarket Square
Bombing
6 12/15/1890 Standing Rock Shoot-out with
Reservation, Sitting Bull's
S.D. "Ghost Dancers"
6 4/7/1902 Tuscumbia, Ala. Arrest of Will
Reynolds
6 1/2/1932 Springfield, Mo. Shoot-out with Young
Brothers
5 (1) 8/23/1917 Houston Camp Logan Riot
5 (2) 1/7/1973 New Orleans Sniper at Howard
Johnson's Motel
4 (3) 7/13-18/1863 New York City Civil War Draft Riots
4 3/14/1873 Lampasas, Texas "Horrel War"
4 5/1/1885 Delaware Bend, Shoot-out with
Okla. Pink-Lee Gang
4 6/17/1933 Kansas City, Mo. Shoot-out with Floyd
Gang at Union
Station
4 9/20/1948 Kansas City, Mo. "Paseo Massacre"
4 (4) 7/23/1968 Cleveland Glenville Shoot-out
with Militants
4 4/6/1970 Newhall, Calif. Newhall Shoot-out
(I-5)
4 2/28/1993 Waco, Texas Shoot-out with Koresh
Cult
3 1/17/1887 Eufaula, Okla. Prisoner (Seaborn
Green) Escape
3 9/1/1893 Ingalls, Okla. Doolin-Dalton Gang
Shoot-out
3 10/21/1904 St. Louis Pine St. Boarding
House Shoot-out
3 2/10/1918 Galiuro Mts., Shoot-out with Power
Ariz. Brothers
3 5/21/1918 Washington, D.C. Arrest
3 (5) 8/31/1921 Blair, W.Va. "Battle of Blair
Mountain"
3 8/7/1927 Atlantic Ocean, Rum Running
off Ft. Shoot-out, Coast
Lauderdale, Fla. Guard Cutter 249
3 1/2/1928 Tendoy, Idaho Arrest Attempt
3 5/28/1955 Ocala, Fla. Domestic Disturbance
3 7/25/1974 Dewar, Okla. (1) Arrest
and Schulter,
Okla. (2)
3 4/1/1976 Miami, Fla. Arrest
3 7/9/1987 Inkster, Mich. Hostage Situation
3 12/21/1988 Lockerbie, Libyan Terrorist
Scotland Bombing of Pan Am
103 Flight
3 12/10/1991 California, Mo. Arrest Attempt
3 11/22/1994 Washington, D.C. Crazed Attack at
Police HQ
3 5/19/1998 Tampa, Fla. (2) Transporting
and Pasco Co., Prisoner/ Prisoner
Fla. (1) Escape
3 10/12/1999 Pleasanton, Texas Ambush
(1) Besides the 5 H.P.D. officers, 2 soldiers
mistaken for policemen and 2 civilians
serving as law enforcers were killed.
(2) First officer killed Dec. 31, 1972; the
remaining four on Jan. 7, 1973.
(3) Two officers died of wounds later and
possibly 9 soldiers were killed.
(4) The fourth officer died years later on
March 9, 1993, as a result of a wound
sustained in that gun battle.
(5) This was a large-scale confrontation
between the state of West Virginia and the
coal miners union.
Note: The National Law Enforcement
Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) includes
less than full-time law enforcement officers
killed in the line of duty depending on job
description, training and circumstances of
death.
The Memorial also includes the 7 officers
killed on Puerto Rico on Oct. 30, 1950; 7
guards killed in the prison riot at Attica,
N.Y., on Sept. 13, 1971; and the 8 guards
killed in the prison riot at Canon City, Colo.,
on Oct. 3, 1929.
LEGEND
D.P.S.: Department of Public Safety
P.D.: Police Department
S.D.: Sheriff's Department
M.P.D.: Metropolitan Police Department
A special thanks to the NLEOMF for
providing assistance in compiling this list.
The criteria for inclusion, howerer, is VFW
magazine's.
Paramilitary Constabularies
The Texas Rangers, dating back to 1823, were perhaps
the nation's first mixed military-law enforcement
force. Since most of their large-scale losses were in
combat with Indians during the mid- 19th century,
they are listed here. Beginning in the Philippines, the
U.S. military assigned officers and NCOs to lead
foreign police-like units overseas. Hence their
casualties also are included under this category.
Marine-led constabularies emerged in Haiti, the
Dominican Republic and Nicaragua during the 1920s.
Texas Rangers (1)
KIA DATE ENGAGEMENT ENEMY
6 4/28/1846 Port Isabel, Texas Mexican Regulars
5 6/26/1839 Bird's Creek Comanches
5 10/13/1864 Elm Creek Kiowas/Comanches
4 10/12/1838 San Antonio (near) Cherokees
4 6/?/1844 Corpus Christi (near) Indians
4 8/5/1847 Los Tablas, Mexico Indians
4 10/3/1855 Escondido, Mexico Indians & Mexicans
4 11/21/1859 Palo Alto (near) Mexican Bandits
(Cortina War)
3 7/12/1874 Lost Valley Kiowas
Nicaraguan National Guard (2)
KIA DATE ENGAGEMENT ENEMY
10 (3 U.S.) 4/21/32 Las Puertas Nicaraguan Marxists
3 (2 U.S.) 6/15/31 Embocaderos Nicaraguan Marxists
Philippine Constabulary (3)
KIA * DATE ENGAGEMENT ENEMY
23 3/24/1906 Magtaon, Samar Pulajan
14 7/21/1906 Burauen, Leyte Pulajan
11 3/24/1917 Sulu Archipelago Moro
9 12/26/1904 Oras, Samar Pulajan
8 9/16/1903 San Jose, Nueva Ecija Santa Iglesias
7 7/5/1906 Montagara, Leyte Pulajan
6 7/28/1905 Samar Pulajan
6 3/6-8/1906 Bud Dajo, Jolo Moro
6 11/28/1909 Zamboanga, Mindanao Subano
6 1/?/1912 Sulu Archipelago Moro
5 5/?/1905 Pala Fort, Jolo Moro
5 12/5/1906 La Paz, Leyte Pulajan
4 3/27/1902 Palompon, Leyte Filipino
3 7/24/1906 Tabon Tabon, Leyte Pulajan
* The vast majority of the multiple deaths listed here were among
Filipino enlisted men.
(1) The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum
memorial Web site contains the names of 79
Rangers killed in the line of duty since 1838. Only
those who could be identified by name are included.
Rangers killed in Mexico (1846-48) and the
Civil War while serving with military units are
excluded.
The four books written by Frederick Wilkins contain
several rarely mentioned incidents. His latest
book, Defending the Borders, completes the series
published by State House Press in Austin. Mr.
Wilkins was instrumental in completing this list.
Texas Rangers KIA during the Mexican War serving
with the U.S. Army against Mexicans, such as
the 7 who died at the Battle of Monterey, are not
included on VFW's list.
(2) U.S. Marines led the Guardia Nacional de
Nicaragua from 1927 through 1932: 20 died while
serving with it, and another 3 perished in the
Managua earthquake of March 31, 1931.
(3) Some 1,000 U.S. Army officers and NCOs led the
Philippine Constabulary from its inception in 1901
through 1918. A total of 17 Americans were killed
in action (11 from 1902 to 1908) while serving with
the PC during this period. Two more Americans
were KIA later (1927 and 1930).
This list is not complete.
Military Police at War
KIA DATE BATTLE WAR
4 7/20/50 Taejon Korean (1)
4 11/29/50 Sunchon Korean
4 1/30/51 Hahoedong, Tanyang Pass Korean
3 1/26/51 Suwon/Han River Korean
16 1/31/68 BOQ #3, Alley Ambush Vietnam (2)
5 1/31/68 Phu Tho Race Track Vietnam
4 1/31/68 U.S. Embassy, Saigon Vietnam
4 1/31/68 Tan Son Nhut Airport Vietnam
3 4/1/66 Victoria Hotel, Saigon Vietnam
3 12/4/66 Tan Son Nhut Airport Vietnam
3 5/28/68 Newport Bridge Vietnam
12 7/18-?/18 Aisne-Marne, France World War I
4 11/7/42 Fedala, Morocco World War II (3)
4 8/8/93 Medina Somalia
2 4/14/68 Tae Song Dong Korea DMZ (4)
KIA DATE UNIT
4 7/20/50 24th MP Co.
4 11/29/50 2nd MP Co.
4 1/30/51 Cos. A & C, 772nd MP Bn.
3 1/26/51 25th MP Co.
16 1/31/68 C Co., 716th MP Bn.
5 1/31/68 716th MP Bn.
4 1/31/68 527th MP Co.
4 1/31/68 377th Security Police Squadron
3 4/1/66 C Co., 716th MP Bn.; AT 46
3 12/4/66 377th Air Police Squadron
3 5/28/68 A Co., 720th MP Bn.
12 7/18-?/18 3rd Division MP Co.
4 11/7/42 204th MP Co.
4 8/8/93 977th MP Co. (3); 300th MP Co.
2 4/14/68 Army Support Group (MPs)
AT= Advisory Team
(1) In the Korean War, 54 Army MPs were
killed in combat, although some may have
been serving in another capacity at the
time of their deaths.
(2) A total of 27 Army MPs were KIA at
various places during the Tet Offensive
(Jan. 31-Feb. 6, 1968). In the Vietnam War,
109 Army MPs of the 18th MP Brigade and
20 Air Force security policemen were
killed in combat.
On May 13, 1975, during the Mayaguez
rescue operation off Cambodia, a
helicopter ferrying the 56th Security Police
Squadron accidentally crashed in
Thailand, killing 18 security policemen.
(3) In WWII, 285 Army MPs were killed in
combat in Europe and the Pacific.
(4) In addition to the U.S. MPs, two South
Korean MPs were killed in the North
Korean ambush of the truck.
Note: The National Law Enforcement
Officers Memorial contains the names of
43 military police officers killed in the line
of duty stateside dating back to 1923. MPs
killed in actual war-zone combat are not
listed on that memorial.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group