D.C. POLICEMEN
The following brief history of the D.C. police force appears under Record Group 351.5 of the Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives.
| A local ordinance, adopted September 20, 1803, provided for a Superintendent of Police appointed by the Mayor. An ordinance of October 13, 1804, authorized the Mayor to appoint as many as four constables or policemen for active duty during the daytime. An act of August 23, 1842 (5 Stat. 511), supplemented the day force by an "auxiliary watch" (night watch). An act of August 6, 1861 (12 Stat. 320), abolished the day force and night watch and created a centralized police district comprising the Corporations of Washington City and Georgetown and the County of Washington, governed by the Metropolitan Police Board (MPB). MPB abolished by an act of March 3, 1878 (20 Stat. 107), with functions transferred to the Board of Commissioners. |
At the end of the list of men who served on the police force, you will find a list of documents that are available at the National Archives for further research.
In the Line of Duty
| Francis M. Doyle, 1868-1871 The first member of the MPD to be killed. Shot by Mrs. Shea who was found not guilty. |
d. 29 Dec 1871 | Range 16 Site 21 |
| John H. Fowler, 1879-1884 Shot while in pursuit of a criminal. |
d. 9 Sep 1884 | Range 91 Site 297 |
| Junius Brutus Slack, 1880-1891 Stabbed. Assailant found not guilty by reason of self-defense. |
d. 25 Nov 1891 | Range 12 Site 213 |
| Preston E. Bradleym 1917-1921 Crushed between an auto and street car while trying to arrest a drunk driver. |
d. 21 Feb 1921 | Range 81 Site 59 |
Major & Superintendent (Chief of Police)
| Samuel H. Walker, (1886) |
d. 26 Jan 1935 | Range 89 Site 325 |
| William G. Moore, (1886-1898) |
d. 12 Jul 1898 | Range 81 Site D-3 |
| Raymond W. Pullman, (1915-1920) |
d. 22 Feb 1922 | Range 67 Site 168 |
| Harry L. Gessford, (1920-1921), Son of James W. Gessford |
d. 6 Nov 1933 | Range 69 Site 164S |
Other Related Officials
| Gen. Peter F. Bacon Police Board |
d. 8 Apr 1900 | Range 49 Site 200 |
| Joseph W. Beck Police Magistrate |
d. 19 Nov 1854 | Beck Vault |
| Sayles Bowen Police Board |
d. 16 Dec 1896 | Range 84 Site 102 |
| Henry Pratt Cattell, 1883-1912 Property Clerk, HQ |
d. 8 Dec 1915 | Range 8 Site 86 |
| George W. Crowther Bailiff, Police Court |
d. 19 Jan 1943 | Range 62 Site 198 |
| Edward G. Handy Police Magistrate |
d. 28 Jun 1871 | Range 55 Site 206 |
| Nicholas C. Harper Deputy Clerk, Police Court |
d. 16 Jan 1918 | Range 33 Site 101 |
| Waldo C. Hibbs Secr. to Commissioner MacFarland |
d. 13 Nov 1919 | Range 37 Site 208 |
| James A. Kemp Police Clerk |
d. 24 Dec 1925 | Range 20 Site 134 |
| William Kemp, 1883-1907 Chief Clerk |
d. 16 Jun 1922 | Range 157 Site 209 |
| James Lynch Justice of the Peace |
d. 6 Dec 1878 | Range 43 Site 98 |
| Charles W. Mahon, 1893-1918 Guard in the Workhouse & U.S. Jail |
d. 12 Feb 1892 | Range 91 Site 286 |
| Dr. Samuel A.H. McKim Police Surgeon |
d. 26 Jul 1900 | Range 70 Site 98 |
| Alexander R. Mullowny Judge |
d. 29 Aug 1929 | Range 76 Site 318 |
| Dr. James R. Nevitt Coroner 1900-1931 |
d. 30 Aug 1952 | Range 23 Site 139 |
| William R. Ruff Police Court Clerk |
d. 19 Jan 1928 | Range 53 Site 178 |
| Francis A. Sebring, 1897-1937 Police Court Clerk |
d. 22 Feb 1937 | Range 7 Site 156 |
| Ernest W. Snook, 1868-1878 Deputy Marshall |
d. 26 Seo 1828 | Range 22 Site 187 |
| James W. Springman, 1884-1909 Deputy Marshall |
d. 4 Nov 1909 | Range 16 Site 13 |
| Edward F. Tolson | d. 2 Jul 1883 | Range 55 Site 60 |
| William H. Tucker Police Magistrate |
d. 6 Jul 1870 | Range 76 Site 128 |
| Artemus R. Warfield Engineer, Police Court |
d. 26 Sep 1917 | Range 118 Site 248 |
Women's Bureau
| Elizabeth Gingell, 1889-1894 Police Matron |
d. 15 Sep 1894 | Range 18 Site 215 |
| Irene Lucy Gallagher Hubbs | d. 24 Mar 1926 | Range 16 Site 152 |
Early Police Force
| Charles W. Arnold Constable & Auxiliary Guards (night watch) |
d. 20 Nov 1883 | Range 84 Site 68 |
| Col. Henry Ashton Marshall |
d. 13 Aug 1896 | Range 17 Site 89 |
| James A. Bean Constable |
d. 29 Aug 1929 | Range 76 Site 318 |
| James Henry Birch Auxiliary Guards (night watch) |
d. 20 Dec 1879 | Range 74 Site 33 |
| William A. Boss Constable |
d. 11 Sep 1886 | Range 47 Site 41 |
| James Bowen Constable |
d. 27 Aug 1838 | Range 137 Site 201 |
| Robert V. Harrison Auxiliary Guards (night watch) |
d. 29 May 1877 | Range 2 Site 20 |
| Solomon Hubbard Auxiliary Guards (night watch) |
d. 26 Apr 1876 | Range 64 Site 145 |
| Benjamin D. Klopfer Auxiliary Guards (night watch) |
d. 19 Aug 1896 | Range 71 Site 220 |
| John Mills Auxiliary Guards (night watch), Captain |
d. 17 Jul 1871 | Range 40 Site 164 |
| Stephen B. Plumsill Constable |
d. 9 Mar 1890 | Range 2 Site 76 |
| Tench Ringgold Marshall |
d. 31 Jul 1844 | Range 45 Site 55 |
| Col. William W. Selden Marshall |
d. 28 Apr 1874 | Range 80 Site 299 |
| Johnson Simonds Auxiliary Guards (night watch) |
d. 2 Nov 1892 | Range 15 Site 67 |
| Horatio N. Steele Police Chief |
d. 4 Dec 1862 | Public Vault Rem. to Alexandria, Va. |
| Noble J. Thomas Superintendent of the Prison |
d. 9 Nov 1878 | Range 88 Site 129 |
| William Wallis Constable |
d. 10 Dec 1878 | Range 24 Site 201 |
| James M. Wrightbr/>Constable | d. 26 Apr 1876 | Range 64 Site 145 |
Capitol Police
| Alonzo Jones Eaton | d. 4 Aug 1905 | Range 84 Site 368 |
| William C. McGill | d. 21 Aug 1890 | Range 17 Site 258 |
MPD Police Officers
| Name / Term of Service Highest Rank / Other Comments |
Death | Cemetery Location | |
| Elijah Acton, 1865 Private |
d. 13 Feb 1886 | Range 79 Site 287 | |
| Joseph Acton, 1867-1911 Sergeant, Died a patient at St. Elizabeths |
d. 28 Dec 1912 | Range 3 Site 76 | |
| Edward P. Anderson, 1890-1922 Private 3rd Class |
d. 17 Feb 1936 | Range 20 Site 59 | |
| Lingan B. Anderson, 1861-1908 Private 3rd Class, Assigned Badge #1 |
d. 17 Feb 1936 | Range 20 Site 59 | |
| William T. Anderson, 1873-1920 Captain, No. 11 Precinct |
d. 20 Dec 1930 | Range 111 Site 205 | |
| James E. Arnold (Jr.), 1894-1898 Private 1st Class |
d. 6 Jul 1913 | Range 87 Site 369 | |
| James E. Arnold (Sr.), 1864-1891 | d. 20 Jun 1908 | Range 20 Site 80 | |
| Richard A. Arnold, 1870-1886 Lieutenant |
d. 16 Dec 1904 | Range 20 Site 127 | |
| Charles Ashton, 1861-1873 Sergeant |
d. 23 Dec 1878 | Range 63 Site 44 | |
| Harris L. Atchison, 1867-1886 White House Usher, Garfield Assassination |
d. 13 Aug 1904 | Range 80 Site 306 | |
| Thomas Auldridge, 1867-1895 | d. 24 May 1896 | Range 91 Site 175 | |
| Manville A. Austin, 1866-1901 Acting Major & Superintendent |
d. 14 Feb 1911 | Range 63 Site 289 | |
| Maurice M. Austin, 1890-1900 Private 2nd Class, Son of Manville A. Austin |
d. 5 Aug 1903 | Range 64 Site 288 | |
| James L. Ballinger Engineer, Harbor Police |
d. 16 Nov 1903 | Range 14 Site 38 | |
| Benjamin F. Barker (Sr.), 1861-1868 Sergeant |
d. 16 Dec 1881 | Range 3 Site 5 | |
| George W. Barkley, 1862-1889 | d. 1 Sep 1893 | Range 74 Site 300 | |
| James H. Beall, 1862-1865 | d. 10 Mar 1905 | Range 88 Site 276 | |
| Charles E. Berkley, 1863-1883 | d. 8 Jan 1877 | Range 63 Site 16 | |
| Daniel P. Berkley, 1872-1876 | d. 11 Aug 1883 | Range 49 Site 220 | |
| George W. Blandford, 1871-1897 | d. 23 Aug 1897 | Range 85 Site 298 | |
| Thomas J. Boyd, 1893 | d. 1 Mar 1927 | Range 69 Site 60 | |
| Albert Brewer, 1861-1867 | d. 25 Apr 1867 | Range 74 Site 49 | |
| Hanson Brown (Jr.), 1869 | d. 8 Feb 1884 | Range 80 Site 53 | |
| Robert Brown, 1861-1862 | d. 11 Oct 1864 | Range 79 Site 55 | |
| John V. Bryan, 1861-1862 | d. 25 Nov 1876 | Range 69 Site 282 | |
| Raphael W. Bryan, 1875-1912 Sergeant, White House Guard |
d. 24 Jan 1914 | Range 147 Site 211 | |
| John L. Buckmaster, 1889-1903 Private 2nd Class |
d. 22 Jan 1903 | Range 56 Site 28 | |
| Harry T. Burlingame, 1904-1930 Sergeant |
d. 23 Dec 1932 | Public Vault Rem. to Arlington National Cemetery |
|
| Francis H. Case Sergeant |
d. 24 Jun 1911 | Range 67 Site 289 | |
| George S. Catts, 1896-1908 Hack Inspector, Private 3rd Class |
d. 2 Jan 1909 | Range 97 Site 267 | |
| Charles M. Chipman, 1882-1883 | d. 28 Mar 1884 | Range 93 Site 302 | |
| James Ciscle, 1889-1907 Private 3rd Class |
d. 8 Aug 1907 | Range 63 Site 175 | |
| Allen B. Clark, 1903-1916 Private 3rd Class |
d. 21 Dec 1916 | Range 124 Site 217 | |
| Caleb C. Clark, 1889-1890 | d. 29 Mar 1900 | Range 16 Site 18 | |
| John Alexander W. Clarvoe Detective, Investigated the Lincoln assassination. |
d. 3 Sep 1896 | Range 23 Site 91 | |
| Thomas A. Clements, 1864-1896 | d. 4 Feb 1879 | Range 63 Site 134 | |
| Oliver H. Coffin, 1894-1919 | d. 10 Apr 1919 | Range 124 Site 248 | |
| Albert V. Conway, 1892-1895 | d. 26 Oct 1913 | Range 111 Site 235 | |
| Samuel L. Cook , 1892-1909 Detective |
d. 27 Sep 1913 | Range 151 Site 235 | |
| John W. Coomes, 1864-1887 Detective |
d. 20 Aug 1887 | Range 87 Site 340 | |
| Francis E. Cross, 1884-1922 Inspector |
d. 5 May 1927 | Range 20 Site 139 | |
| Benjamin T. DeVaughn, 1861-1864 | d. 18 Nov 1875 | Range 74 Site 211 | |
| Richard M. Downer, 1861-1862 Sergeant |
d. 7 Apr 1863 | Range 67 Site 152 | |
| James G.Dunnington, 1867-1909 Private 3rd Class |
d. 2 Mar 1909 | Range 16 Site 21 | |
| Thomas H. Elliott, 1889-1895 | d. 24 Sep 1895 | Range 32 Site 21 | |
| Samuel H. Ellis, 1866-1896 White House Guard, Private 2nd Class |
d. 17 May 1896 | Range 20 Site 17 | |
| Thomas L. English, 1894-1928 Private 3rd Class |
d. 17 Jul 1928 | Range 72 Site 121 | |
| John R. Evans, 1895-1926 Sergeant |
d. 2 Apr 1932 | Range 103 Site 210 | |
| William F. Falvey, 1883-1922 Captain |
d. 2 Jan 1934 | Range 89 Site 317 | |
| Richard M.A. Fenwick, 1861-1863 | d. 10 Apr 1907 | Range 33 Site 233 | |
| George Field, 1867-1883 | d. 25 Aug 1892 | Range 17 Site 146 | |
| Michael J. Flynn, 1887-1907 | d. 8 Feb 1907 | Range 86 Site 371 | |
| James Frank, 1884-1917 | d. 28 May 1917 | Range 40 Site 176C-2 | |
| John A. Frank,1888-1906 Sanitary Officer, Private 2nd Class |
d. 18 Jan 1906 | Range 9 Site 257 | |
| Henry A. Garrett, 1861-1869 | d. 15 Feb 1869 | Range 54 Site 90 | |
| James L. Gates, 1867-1877 Died a patient at St. Elizabeths. |
d. 26 Mar 1881 | Range 90 Site 180 | |
| Louis Gebicke, 1890-1891 | d. 3 Sep 1896 | Range 134 Site 236 | |
| James W. Gessford, 1861-1901 | d. 6 Mar 1902 | Range 74 Site 229 | |
| William H. Gibson, 1861-1869 White House Guard |
d. 7 Feb 1869 | Range 66 Site 110 | |
| Adwin W. Green, 1885-1907 Private 3rd Class |
d. 31 Jul 1909 | Range 84 Site 275 | |
| McGill Grove, 1897-? Lieutenant |
d. 13 Jul 1951 | Range 82 Site 268 | |
| Joseph W. Gunnell, 1865-1886 | d. 11 Jan 1889 | Range 52 Site 240 | |
| Philip W. Harbin, 1861-1890 Private 2nd Class |
d. 7 Sep 1890 | Range 65 Site 329 | |
| Reuben M. Harlow,1871-1897 | d. 25 Jan 1913 | Range 86 Site 124 | |
| William H. Harrison, 1892-? Inspector |
d. 13 Oct 1943 | Range 79 Site 162S | |
| John T. Hatton, 1885-1920 Private 3rd Class |
d. 13 Jun 1880 | Range 13 Site 197 | |
| Thomas C. Hatton, 1880 | d. 25 Aug 1920 | Range 163 Site 225 | |
| William N. Hayes, 1894-1905 Private 2nd Class |
d. 3 Feb 1906 | Range 16 Site 71 | |
| Jacob Heller, 1886-1899 Private 2nd Class |
d. 24 Sep 1899 | Range 82 Site 214 | |
| Townsend R. Hobbs, 1874-1880 | d. 31 Dec 1880 | Range 91 Site 207 | |
| Joseph T. Hollinberger, 1885-1914 Captain |
d. 4 Apr 1914 | Range 95 Site 254 | |
| Lewis H. Hollinberger, 1867-1902 Lieutenant |
d. 7 Nov 1905 | Range 94 Site E-2 | |
| Francis P. Holmes, 1900-1917 Private 3rd Class |
d. 30 Nov 1927 | Range 136 Site 188 | |
| George W. Horton, 1886-1897 Private 2nd Class, Hung for murdering his mistress. |
d. 8 Dec 1899 | Range 75 Site 311 | |
| John T. Howe, 1868-1899 Private 2nd Class |
d. 24 Nov 1899 | Range 73 Site 199 | |
| Joseph H. Hughes, 1867-1887 Sergeant |
d. 13 Jun 1887 | Range 90 Site 339 | |
| Charles W. Hutchinson, 1876-1910 Detective |
d. 25 Apr 1910 | Range 77 Site 174 | |
| Charles E. James, 1862-1899 | d. 11 Aug 1899 | Range 67 Site 225 | |
| Charles A. Keefe, 1896-1898 | d. 7 Feb 1901 | Range 15 Site 179 | |
| George D. Kenner, 1868-1890 | d. 29 Sep 1890 | Range 67 Site 317 | |
| John M. Kenney, 1883-1904 Lieutenant |
d. 26 Apr 1876 | Range 64 Site 145 | |
| John W. Kenney, 1906-1918 Private 3rd Class, Died in the Spanish Flu Epidemic |
d. 28 Dec 1918 | Range 79 Site 273 | |
| Robert J. King, 1867-1901 Private 2nd Class |
d. 18 Jan 1908 | Range 89 Site 61 | |
| DeWitt C. Lamb, 1878-1899 | d. 15 May 1899 | Range 70 Site 251 | |
| James H. Lee, 1902-? Private 3rd Class |
d. 22 Aug 1935 | Range 96 Site 164S | |
| Robert E. Lee, 1893-1926 Sergeant |
d. 6 Jan 1930 | Range 95 Site 164-S | |
| Silas D. Lewis, 1862-1863 | d. 30 Mar 1920 | Range 10 Site 40 | |
| John T.S. Loane, 1870-1903 Private 2nd Class |
d. 27 Dec 1917 | Range 5 Site 105 | |
| Arthur L. Lucas, 1904-? Mounted Horse Patrol |
d. 1 Dec 1861 | Range 122 Site 186 | |
| John R. Mahoney, 1872-1875 | d. 7 Aug 1940 | Range 60 Site 227 | |
| Phillip Mansfield, 1883-1907 Private 3rd Class |
d. 25 Dec 1907 | Range 77 Site 247 | |
| Henry E. Marks, 1867-1901 Acting Sergeant |
d. 26 Apr 1905 | Range 75 Site 189 | |
| Thomas Markward, 1864-1902 | d. 26 Jan 1903 | Range 4 Site 58 | |
| George H. Martin, 1877-1880 | d. 30 Mar 1880 | Range 66 Site 242 | |
| Francis F. McCathran, 1868-1907 Captain |
d. 13 Mar 1907 | Range 121 Site 218 | |
| William C. McGill Guard, District Jail |
d. 21 Aug 1890 | Range 17 Site 258 | |
| John E. Melson, 1865-1874 | d. 3 Feb 1896 | Range 13 Site 17 | |
| George O. Miller, 1862-1866Detective | d. 21 Jul 1907 | Range 71 Site 246 | |
| Albert W. Mills, 1878-1885 | d. 29 May 1885 | Range 97 Site 313 | |
| Edward Mitchell, 1889-1897 Stationkeeper |
d. 26 Jan 1897 | Range 107 Site 176-C1 | |
| Walter A. Nicholson, 1873-1892 | d. 15 Sep 1892 | Range 3 Site 93 | |
| Henry C. O'Brien, 1900-1911 Railroad Crossing Squad |
d. 30 Nov 1927 | Range 109 Site 262 | |
| Charles W. O'Neill, 1868-1890 | d. 29 Apr 1897 | O'Neill Vault | |
| Samuel F.D. Ourand, 1865-1870 | d. 14 Oct 1906 | Range 73 Site 222 | |
| Robert R. Pearson, 1907-1917 Railroad Crossing Squad |
d. 21 Jun 1917 | Range 119 Site 238 | |
| Godwin Pierce, 1861-1897 | d. 21 Apr 1897 | Range 12 Site 21 | |
| William H. Powell, 1869-1886 | d. 2 Nov 1892 | Range 10 Site 151 | |
| Louis VanBogan Ray, 1887-1906 Desk Sergeant |
d. 22 Sep 1906 | Range 14 Site 82 | |
| Nicholas B. Ray, 1865-1868 | d. 11 Nov 1868 | Range 14 Site 81 | |
| Joseph W. Reed, 1867-1876 | d. 20 Apr 1928 | Range 63 Site 21 | |
| Daniel M. Reidy, 1893-1894 | d. 1 Jan 1934 | Range 125 Site 202 | |
| Jefferson D. Rodgers, 1889-1897 Private 2nd Class |
d. 21 Jun 1897 | Range 110 Site 176-C2 | |
| William H. Rollins, 1881-? Stationkeeper |
d. 8 Dec 1894 | Range 134 Site 188 | |
| Owen C. Ryon, 1892-1926 Sergeant |
d. 15 Jan 1944 | Range 142 Site 219 | |
| John N. Salkeld, 1878-1897 | d. 31 Jul 1897 | Range 96 Site 369 | |
| Washington Sanford, 1887-1923 Private 3rd Class |
d. 10 Dec 1923 | Range 14 Site 161 | |
| William J. Savage | d. 6 May 1942 | Range 147 Site E-3 | |
| John T. Scott, 1867-1892 | d. 31 Oct 1892 | Range 81 Site 91 | |
| Thomas Shakespeare, 1861-1862 | d. 10 Aug 1862 | Range 67 Site 85 | |
| Joseph G. Shelton, 1861-1887 | d. 24 Oct 1907 | Range 96 Site 82 | |
| Francis M. Skinner, 1868-1872 | d. 23 Jun 1929 | Range 97 Site 363 | |
| George R.F. Smith, 1876-1917 Private 3rd Class |
d. 13 May 1917 | Range 130 Site 215 | |
| Adam Stenhouse, 1890-1904 Private 2nd Class |
d. 12 Aug 1906 | Range 112 Site 186 | |
| Thomas M. Sullivan, 1869-1899 Private 2nd Class |
d. 28 Mar 1904 | Public Vault Rem. to Mt. Olivet Cemetery |
|
| Harry B. Taylor, 1904-1912 Private 3rd Class |
d. 15 Sep 1912 | Range 6 Site 40 | |
| William Thompson Justice of the Peace |
d. 8 Aug 1878 | Range 38 Site 31 | |
| Joseph S. Tucker, 1867-? | d. 7 Oct 1905 | Range 79 Site 69 | |
| John W. VanZant, 1885-1912 Private 3rd Class |
d. 17 Dec 1912 | Range 93 Site 349 | |
| Howard M. Vermillion, 1900-1926 Detective Sergeant |
d. 11 Jan 1926 | Range 80 Site 274 | |
| Charles R. Vernon, 1861-1903 Captain |
d. 27 Nov 1906 | Range 79 Site 50 | |
| August H. Voss, 1862-? Stationkeeper |
d. 21 Dec 1899 | Range 113 Site 194 | |
| George H. Walker, 1861-1870 Sergeant |
d. 1 Apr 1870 | Range 80 Site 144 | |
| Richard E. Weedon, 1884-1921 Private 3rd Class |
d. 9 Jan 1938 | Range 144 Site 176-C2 | |
| Samuel A. Wilson, 1878-1905 | d. 22 Nov 1906 | Range 10 Site 94 | |
| Charles T. Wright, 1880-1897 Sergeant |
d. 13 Feb 1920 | Range 75 Site 320 |