Officer Robert Kuhn

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On this day 1965, we lost our brother, Officer Robert Kuhn, to gunfire based on the following:

On July 22, 1965, at the intersection of North Avenue and Ellamont Street, Officer Robert Kuhn observed a car double-parked. He approached the vehicle and found it empty. As he looked inside the car, a suspect approached him from behind. The suspect shot Kuhn six times with a pistol. The suspect than took Officer Kuhn's service revolver from his holster and shot him six more times. police eventually killed the suspect. investigation revealed that the suspect had narcotics inside of his vehicle. Officer Kuhn served in the U.S. Marine Corps from September 24, 1962, to March 23, 1963. He was active in the Marine Corps Reserves until the time of his death.

For more information, we have pulled the following two news articles from the time of this incident:

2 KILLINGS LAID
TO DAVID COOPER
Kuhn's and Nephew's Deaths
Charged After Meeting
By George J. Hiltner

David Cooper, 45, of the 2900 block Westwood Avenue, was charged by police yesterday with shooting and killing Western District Patrolman Robert H Kuhn early Thursday morning (July 22, 1965) Six other charges, including the shooting and killing of William Cooper, his 29-year-old nephew, also filed against Cooper. All were marked “Abated by death” since the accused man also died after police arrested him for the spree. The charges included three assaults on his arresting officers, Patrolman John Hess, James Griffin and Robert Powell: one charge of possessing marijuana, one charge of possessing three deadly weapons,.22 and.38 caliber pistols, and a blackjack.

Decided at Conference
The decision to institute charges against the elder Mr. Cooper and to accuse no one in connection with his death was made yesterday in a high-level conference attended by Charles E. Moylan. State's attorney, Capt. Wade Poole, of the Western District; Lt. Anton Glover, of the homicide squad, and Sgt. Hobert Lewis, also of homicide. Mr. Moylan stated that he also conferred with Dr. Charles S. Petty, assistant medical examiner for Maryland. The Slate's attorney complimented the Police Department for the "superlative job that had been done in piecing together the

Narrative of what occurred in the early morning hours of Thursday. “Mr. Moylan then said: “it appears incomprehensible that David Cooper shot officer: at least five times in the body, thereby causing his death. “Three pellets were recovered from the body of Officer Kuhn and a total of 15 gunshot wounds were found on his body. The attack was clearly unprovoked, as Officer Kuhn was simply making a car check for double parking on a 3100 block of W. North Ave. “It also appears that David Cooper was responsible for the death of his nephew, William Cooper. Some minutes after shooting Officer Kuhn, the elder Cooper shot the nephew three times in the right temple with a .22 caliber revolver, thereby causing his death. This revolver was recovered on Cooper at the time of his arrest. No charges will be placed against anyone for the death of David Cooper himself. Dr. Petty found Cooper to be suffering from advanced case of heart disease showing both an enlarged heart and significant clogging of the arteries. “The cardiac condition was such that any excessive strain might have well brought on the heart attack.

Cooper exerted extreme exertions of energy in the shooting of the officer, the apparent struggle with his nephew, his later violent resistance to the arrest on the street in the 1600 block of St. Stephen Street, in the cruising patrol going to Lutheran hospital and in the Lutheran hospital itself, where he had to be physically restrained at the request of the doctors. “Cooper also was suffering from two gunshot wounds, one in the left elbow and one in the right ankle. It appeared that the gunshot wound inflicted by his own .22-caliber revolver during the struggle between him and his nephew, which resulted in the nephew’s death. “At no time did any police officer in the case even drawl, let alone use his service revolver.

Blood on the blackjack “there were also superficial abrasions about Cooper’s head, some of which were certainly caused when the officers had to restrain him as he struggled to obtain possession of his .22-caliber revolver, some of which may have been inflicted by his nephew, who had a homemade blackjack accessible to him, which was found on the rear seat of Cooper’s automobile. “It should be pointed out that when the officers first approached David Cooper on St. Stephen’s Street, they noticed that he already had blood on his head and shirt and the blood was also found on the blackjack in the automobile. “At any rate, the abrasions were a very minor contributing factor at most since the autopsy showed no skull fracture of any sort and no blood clotting at all in the area of the brain.”

Ballistics Report 
Mr. Moylan further explained that the uncle, in his first contact with patrolman Kuhn, used another weapon, a 38-caliber pistol. And emptied it into the body of the police victim. Then he used a 22-caliber revolver to fire at the nephew and it was this weapon with which he himself was shot during the struggle with the younger relative, the State’s attorney said. This reconstruction of events is borne out by the finding of police ballistics expert yesterday that the 38-caliber bullets recovered from the body of patrolman Kuhn were fired from the weapon which David Cooper abandoned in the car. Ballistics findings also verified the bullets taken from the body of William Cooper were fired from a 22-caliber gun.

David Cooper Due Charge of Murder
Chief Inspector says only change in facts or alter plans
The Police Department’s chief inspectors said last night that, barring new developments, the department expects to charge David Cooper with the murders of patrolman Robert Henry Kuhn and William Cooper early yesterday morning.
David Cooper died at 3:05 AM yesterday. Two hours after the shooting of the 23-year-old policeman and the discovery of William Cooper’s body slumped in the back seat of a car a few blocks away,.
George J Murphy the chief inspector said he felt the facts that have been gathered so far in the case suggest David Cooper was responsible for the two shootings.

Await Ballistic Reports
He said that if no new facts come in late, the department expects to file police murder charges against the elder Cooper. A definite decision on the charge could not be made yesterday. Because the results of the ballistics and fingerprint tests essential to the investigation will not be available until today. The charge, if made, will be academic in any case. In technical language, it will be ABATED by the death of the defendant

Inspector Murphy's statement came at the end of the day of intensive investigation into the shooting of patrolman Kuhn and the subsequent death that followed. investigation was hampered by the fact that there were no direct eyewitnesses accounting of any of the three shootings and that all of the principles were dead.

Scene Reconstructed
However, as new facts dribbled into the investigation, officers gradually built up a convincing picture of the scene that resulted in the shooting of patrolman Kuhn of the 3300 block of Glen arm Avenue. Police felt certain the patrolman, Kuhn, was shot to death with a 22-caliber revolver by David Cooper, 45, of the 2900 block of Westwood Avenue. After the officer stopped him in the 3100 block of W. North Ave. about 1:15 AM for a parking violation of routine check. A few minutes later, police theorized, David Cooper shot and killed his 29-year-old nephew, William R Cooper, of the 2300 block of Norfolk Street. When the younger man refused to cooperate with his uncle,.

David Cooper was arrested by police less than a half-hour after the shootings. He died at Lutheran hospital at 3:05 AM following a struggle with policeman in a patrol car.

15 Bullet Holes in Body
Dr. Charles S Petit Junior, assistant medical examiner, said yesterday afternoon that David Cooper died of a severe heart condition combined with the several injuries he had received. Dr. Petty said patrolman Kuhn died of gunshot wounds. He said 322 caliber bullets were found in his body and that there were 15 bullet holes in his body. William Cooper died of bullet wounds in the head caused by 322-caliber bullets. Dr. Petty said that the bullets that killed patrolman Kuhn might have come from the same gun with which William Cooper was shot but of that he could not be certain.
Only one witness, firefighter Carlos Down’s of the firehouse on North Avenue, observed a part of the scene.

Six Or Eight Shots
He told police that he was sitting at the desk in the firehouse when he heard a shot, got up and went to the door. About 90 feet away on the south side of North Avenue, he saw a man pointing a gun at the sidewalk in front of him Mr. Downs told police. He then heard six or eight shots in rapid succession. He said he thought at the time that the man was drunk and just shooting. Mr. Downs said at first he did not see what the man was shooting at. He said he saw the man with the gun get into the black and white convertible and drive east on North Avenue. Mr. Downs said the patrolman’s gun was still in his holster as he lay on the ground. He said the officer was still alive when he got to him, “moaning” and “bleeding real bad.”

Found Car And Body
a police dragnet was thrown around the area, and a patrol car a few minutes later found William Cooper laying in the back seat of a black and white convertible in the 1600 block of St. Stephen Street. While searching the car, police found a 38-caliber automatic and a handmade blackjack. A few minutes later, officers in another patrol car apprehended David Cooper, who was running in the 2000 Block Pressbury St. the officers report they saw blood on his hand and were certain when they arrested him.

He will forever be missed, but never forgotten by us, his brothers and sisters of the Baltimore Police Department. God bless you and rest in peace.

Officer Edward Kowalewski

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On this day in Baltimore Police History 1962, we lost our brother, Police Officer Edward J. Kowalewski, to Gunfire based on the following:

While attempting to assist a cab driver who was being robbed, Patrolman Kowalewski was shot and killed, He became the third Baltimore City Police Officer to be killed in 1962 -

The Following Sun Paper Article best describes the events of July 2, 1962

Suspect to be Charged
In Slaying of Policeman
July 3, 1962
Police said last night (2 July 1962) they will charge a suspect today in connection with the slaying of a city policeman who was shot when he attempted to help a wounded cab driver at North Avenue and Charles street yesterday. The dead officer is the third policeman killed in the line of duty this year. He was Patrolman Edward J. Kowalewski, a 35-year-old father of four children and an eight-year veteran of the department.

After receiving treatment for a bullet wound of the lower back at Maryland General Hospital. Mr. Rich had driven the suspect to Baltimore from Washington before the shooting. Washington police had issued a look out for a fugitive in an armed robbery that closely resembled the main custody, police said. The suspect, fleeing in another cab and pursued by a third cab, was captured by Patrolman Stanley Zawadski, a boyhood friend of slain officer at Orleans and Gay streets. Police said he was reloading his gun when taken into custody. Witnesses, including a hold-up victim and the victim of an attempted hold-up each from Washington, viewed the suspect in lineups at Police Headquarters yesterday afternoon. Police identified the man as Ray Allen Nixt, 40, a waiter with no home address. Officers said he was paroled recently from Folsom Prison in California after serving ten years of a life sentence for armed robbery.
Cab drivers credited with aiding in the capture were Zonnie Wisc., 34, who chased the fugitive and picked up Patrolman Zawadski on the way; Charles L Wise, who was forced at gunpoint to drive him away from the shooting scene and later disarmed him, and Charles II. Miller, 33, who saw the Hashing light alarm on the commandeered vehicle and forced it to the curb.

Patrolman Kowalewski whose home was at 1231 Church Street, Curtis Bay, will be given an inspector’s funeral Friday
Services will be held at 9:15 AM at the William S. Fialkowski Funeral establishment. 4200 Pennington Avenue, followed by a requiem mass at 10 a.m. at St. Athanasius Church, at Prudence and Church streets. Two other officers killed this year were Patrolman Henry Smith, Jr., killed April 7 while trying to break up a dice game in the 700 block of West Lexington Street, and Mid Patrolman Richard Seebo killed May 26 by a motorist he stopped in the 300 block of East Twentieth Street.

We, his brothers and sisters of the Baltimore Police Department, will not let him be forgotten. God bless you and rest in peace.

Police Officer Frederick K. Kontner

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On this day in Baltimore Police History On February 10,, 1967, we lost our Brother Police officer, Frederick K. Kontner, to gunfire based on the following: Policeman Kontner, who was 27, died at 10:30 a.m. on February 10, 1967, at Union Memorial hospital of shock and infection caused by three gunshot wounds from a fleeing suspect on January 25, 1967, and internal injuries that became infected, causing his death.

The Sun (1837–1987); Feb 11, 1967; entitled Patrolman Kontner Rites
pg

POLICEMAN WAS SHOT DURING A CHASE OF A NARCOTIC SUSPECT WHO WAS LATER SLAIN

Funeral services for Patrolman Frederick Kenneth Kontner, a city policeman who was shot by a fleeing suspect on January 25, will be held at 10 AM Tuesday at Zion United Church of Christ, Harford road and Iona Terrace.

Policeman Kontner, who was 27, died at 10:30 AM yesterday at Union Memorial hospital of shock and infection caused by three gunshot wounds and internal injuries. He lived at White Hall, Maryland.

COMMENDED FOUR TIMES
Patrolman Kontner was shot in the left arm, chest, and abdomen by a former patient of the Patuxent Institute whom police were questioning about narcotics. The suspect, Donald Leo Sabutas, was killed shortly afterward, followed by a barrage of police gunfire.

A six-year veteran of the police force, patrolman Kontner had been commended four times.

A native of Baltimore, patrolman Kontner was graduated from City College in 1957. He also studied pre-law for a year in Baltimore.

A former member of the Marine reserves, he entered basic training July 1, 1956, and was discharged from active duty at Camp Lejeune as a Pfc. on January 1, 1957.

GENERAL TOUR Creator
After joining the police force December 29, 1960, he was assigned briefly to the traffic division. He was transferred to the northern district 16 March 16, 1961, where he remained for six years of duty. He was assigned to cruising patrol 5, which focuses the entire Northern District but focuses particularly in an area bounded by Greenmount and Pennsylvania and North Avenues and 33rd St.

He received official commendations in 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1967. The commendations were for his work in arresting three school burglary suspects, three suspects later convicted of assault and robbery, and three home burglary suspects later found guilty of attempted burglary.

SAW SUSPICIOUS ACTION
His wife, a former Mary Lou Moniewski, worked as a police clerk in the central records Bureau from February 25, 1960, until October 6.

HE WAS A MEMBER THE ZION UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST.
The bullet wound which led to Patrolman Kontner’s death came after police saw a transaction at North Avenue in Calvert Street, which made them suspect narcotics.

The patrol car, in which Patrolman Kontner was riding, followed the suspect as they ran north at about 8:30 PM January 25.

Patrolman Kontner was shot as he chased the suspect behind the old Department Of Motor Vehicles building, now the State Office Buildings.
Sabutas was cornered and gunned down by police after he sought refuge in a stopped car, carrying eight passengers, on 23rd St. near Guilford Avenue.

Sabutas was later charged with assaulting Patrolman Kontner, but charges were abated because of the suspect’s death.

The Patuxent Institute later revealed that Sabutas had been released from its treatment against the recommendations of the staff psychiatrist.
Besides his wife, Patrolman Kontner is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick H Kontner, of Baltimore, and his grandmother, Mrs. Robert Davis of Bishop of Maryland.

We take this time to remember him and thank him for his service and sacrifice. We, his brothers and sisters of the Baltimore Police Department, will not let him be forgotten. God bless you and Rest in Peace

Baltimore Sun Article dated November 2, 1967 

A man who shot and wounded a Northern district policeman last night on a parking lot in the 2100 block of Guilford Avenue was killed minutes later in a barrage of police shotgun fire… Patrolman Kontner and Patrolman Raymond

A slave gunman was Treated at Patuxent

Newspapers reported on 27, 1967; pg. C24    

Psychiatrists opposed release of Officers assailants

The 27-year-old man killed in a burst of police bullets Wednesday night after being critically wounded by a city policeman had been released from the Patuxent institution against the recommendation of a staff psychiatrist.

Donald Leo Sabutas, the dead man, was described in the criminal court hearing on his release in October 1966 as being “rather severely disturbed and schizoid, and grossly immature and [having] the potential to do real bodily harm.”

The policeman he shot, patrolman Frederick K. Kontner, of the northern district, remained on the critical list at Union Memorial Hospital yesterday after surgery for four gunshot wounds.

A hospital official said the officer was “improving” and had received numerous blood transfusions during the day. He was in the hospital’s intensive care unit with wounds to the chest, abdomen, and left arm.

Charges dropped

Meanwhile, charges of assaulting three policemen and intending to murder them against Sabutas, of the 2600 block of N. Calvert St., were dropped in northern Municipal Court because of his death.

Sabutas was killed by police bullets and gunshot fire as he scrambled to get out of a car parked on 23rd St. near Guilford Avenue minutes after he shot patrolman Kontner in the parking lot of the old department of motor vehicles building in the 2100 block of Guilford Avenue.

The chain of shooting started when Sabutas and his companions were stopped by patrolman Kontner and another officer for suspicion of a narcotic violation. Sabutas and his two companions had been seen at North Avenue and Calvert Street with two other men, who fled when they saw police.

Lieutenant . James Cadden, of the homicide squad, said Sabutas had been questioned about narcotics usage in 1962 after being arrested on suspicion of committing a larceny.

But officials at the Patuxent Institute, from which Sabutas was released last October after three years, said they had no evidence “that he ever had a narcotic problem or ever used narcotics.”

Patuxent officials also described the background of Sabutas, a ninth-grade dropout with a long record of criminal convictions.

Released: October 19th

Forced Calhoun, Junior., Assistant superintendent of Patuxent, said Sabutas was released 19 October 19, despite the recommendations of Dr. Giovanni C. Croce, a staff psychiatrist, that Sabutas should be kept there longer.

Mr. Calhoun read a psychiatric report written when Sabutas was set free. In part, it was read:

“If released to a free society and this patient is placed in a conflicting or frustrating situation over which he has little or no control, he would have a tendency to revert to his formal mode of antisocial behavior.”

The report described Sabutas as still being a defective delinquent, the status under which he was sent to Patuxent after a burglary conviction early in 1963.

The report concluded that Sabutas “has the potential to become an even more severe danger to society” because of “aggravated antisocial behavior.”

When at Patuxent, Mr. Calhoun said Sabutas had made a reasonable adjustment to the institution, finishing his high school education and showing aptitude enough to become an instructor in welding. He had taken vocational training there.

Still, Mr. Calhoun added, the institution staff thought Sabutas overall improvement in three years had been superficial and that he was not ready for release, even under supervision.”

Tangled with law at age 16

Sabutas tangled with the law for the first time when he was just 16 and was sent to the Maryland training school for boys on a conviction of assault with a deadly weapon.

In November 1956, he was given four years in the Maryland state reformatory in Hagerstown for the same charge. While there, he participated in 17 violations of prison rules, most of them fights.

He had also served time in the house of corrections for assault, cutting and larceny. Three days after he was released on the second sentence,. On November 13, 1962, he was arrested for the burglary that eventually sent him to Patuxent.

Two others being held

Yesterday police release two men arrested within an hour after patrolman Kontner was shot. They were a 21-year-old sheet metal worker and a 22-year-old crab House employee and were arrested for questioning in the case.

One of two pistols taken from Sabutas after he shot it out with police getting out of the car had been used in a tavern hold-up on the second of January this year, police said.

The second gun had been taken from patrolman Raymond Tartel L of the northern district. Patrolman Kontner’s partner was in a patrol wagon they were driving in. A charge against Sabutas of taking the pistol was also dropped yesterday because of his death.

Officer William Knight

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On this day in Baltimore City Police History 1943, we lost our brother, Police Officer William S. Knight, to gunfire based on the following:

Patrolman William Knight and his partner John J. Bianca were sent to the 1100 block of Rutland Ave. to investigate the trouble at a private club that dealt with politics. Upon arrival, the officers were informed that the people involved in the argument had left the club. As they received this information, gunshots rang out from a nearby alley. A black male was seen running from the alley and across the street; the officers gave chase and the suspect was caught by Officer Knight. The suspect that was captured told the officers that he saw a man in a tan jacket firing a pistol and that he was only running to get out of the area. That suspect was placed in the rear of their radio car (keep in mind this was 1943 and the idea of a cage car wouldn’t come along for some time). The area was then further searched for the suspect in the tan jacket that was mentioned by the first suspect. As they were discussing how to handle the situation, the officers observed a man wearing a tan jacket run into an alley where the patrol car wouldn’t go. Officer Bianca chased the man on foot, while Officer Knight stayed with the first suspect and the radio car. The suspect dressed in tan reportedly doubled back to the radio car, where he was confronted by Officer Knight. Shots were fired by both the suspect and the officer, each striking the other in the chest. Officer Knight would stagger back to his radio car to call for help; he made that call and then passed out on the front seat. He was later taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he would be pronounced dead. The first man who was originally placed in the car left the scene when Officer Knight died; he was never identified. The suspect shot by Officer Knight, Thomas Toler, a 20-year-old male, died on November 8, 1943.

Officer Knight had served the City for 7 years before this incident

As his brothers and sisters of the Baltimore Police Department, we will not let him be forgotten, His service Honored the City of Baltimore and the Baltimore Police Department may he rest in peace, and may God bless him

Officer John King 
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On this day, December 28, 1936, in Baltimore Police History, we lost our brother, Officer John T. King, Jr., as he was killed when he was stuck by a vehicle on December 27, 1936, at 11:20 . Officer King was struck by a motorist while crossing the intersection of Hoffman and Caroline Streets. He was treated for serious fractures of both legs, internal injuries, abrasions, and shock. The next morning (this day, December 28, 1936), Officer King succumbed to his injuries. He had joined the BPD on April 10, 1923, and served 13 years and 8 months.

MAN IS KILLED WHEN STRUCK BY AUTOMOBILE
The Sun (1837–1987); Dec 28, 1936; p. . 14 
A policeman was badly hurt.
Patrolman John T. King, 43, of the 500 block of Morello Avenue, northeastern district, was seriously injured early this morning, December 28, 1936, when he was struck by an automobile at Carolina and Hoffman streets. He was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where his injuries were diagnosed as possible internal injuries and compound fractures of both legs.

William F. Higgins, the driver of the car, was charged with failing to give right away to a policeman and failing to have a registration card in his possession.

3 MORE DEATHS BOOST TRAFFIC TOLL UP TO 44
The Sun (1837–1987); Jan 21, 1937;
pg. 24
Held For Grand Jury
William Higgins, 20, of the northeastern district, was held for the action of the grand jury yesterday by Dr. Gurley on the charge of causing the death of patrolman John T. King, 42, of the northeastern district. The accident occurred at Huffman and Caroline streets December 28, 1936, and the patrolman died the next day in St. Joseph’s Hospital

YOUTH IS EXONERATED IN POLICEMAN's DEATH
The Sun (1837–1987); Feb 11, 1937;
pg. 11
Used Is Exonerated In Policeman’s Death

William S. Higgins was cleared in a traffic accident fatal to Officer John T. King. William F. Higgins, 20, was acquitted yesterday by Judge Roland K. Adams of the charge of manslaughter growing out of the killing by an automobile of patrolman John T. King at Hoffman and Caroline streets on December 27. In the clearing, Higgins, Judge Adam said he was not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the policeman was in the pedestrian lane when it happened.
Testimony was that Higgins had drank a small quantity of beer before the accident, and judge Adams commented on this feature of the case, saying that the trail, as in other cases, led to a tavern. As his brothers and sisters of the Baltimore Police Department, we will not let him be forgotten. His service honored the City of Baltimore and the Baltimore Police Department. May he rest in peace, and may God bless him.

Capt. Benjamin Franklin Kenney

Baltimore's Senior Police Captain is dead.

The Sun (1837–1987); Oct 1, 1883; p. . 4

Baltimore’s senior police officer, Capt. Dead Capt. Benjamin Franklin Kenney, of the Eastern Police District, died suddenly at his home, number 47 South Washington St., about 11:30 o’clock on Saturday night (September 29, 1883), from an asthmatic attack and heart disease.

Capt. Kenney left the Eastern stationhouse a short while after 9:00–9:30 o’clock and retired soon after he reached his home. About 11:00 o'clock, he complained of feeling unwell and got up. While sitting in a chair, a few minutes later, he fell forward and died almost immediately.

Capt. Kenney was born in Easton, Talbot County, Maryland, and at the time of his death, he was 62 years old. His father was Capt. Richard Kenney, one of the first steamboat captains in Chesapeake Bay; he had for a long time commanded the steamer governor, Walcott. At an early age, he came to Baltimore and learned sailmaking with the late Samuel. In his early life, Capt. Kenney was a sailmaker on the old United States Frigate Delaware in the Mediterranean, when the squadron headquarters were at Port Mahon, on the island of Minorca. He was possessed of a fund of interesting information bearing upon the last days of the sailing frigate's service, which during his service comprised the United States Navy. Capt. Kenney was also in the East India trade as a sailmaker for the Boston clipper and was at the bombardment of Vera Cruz, Mexico, on a supply ship sent out by the government, which stores.

Capt. Kenney originally entered the police force as a lieutenant . of the Eastern District under Marshal Kane. The present (1 Oct 1883) Police Marshall, John T. Gray, was made Lieut. with him in the same district. He remained a lieutenant until the federal soldiers ousted the police in 1861. He returned to his trade of sail-making to make ends meet until April 23, 1867, at the reorganization of the new police system. He was appointed Capt. of the Eastern District, and at the time of his death, he was the senior captain . of the police force.

Capt. Kenney was universally respected and esteemed by all with whom he was a gentleman, possessing many noble qualities. To the poor, he was particularly a friend, and in their time of need, he was foremost in searching them out through his subordinates and alleviating their distress. The officers under him were greatly attached to him, for although a disciplinarian, he tempered his application of the department rules with discretion and kindness.

He left behind a wife, a son, and a daughter. His son was a clerk in the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at Locust Point.

The flags of the different station houses and in the parks were half-masted yesterday, September 30, 1883, in respect to his memory. The monumental social club passed resolutions of respect and placed the colors at half-mast on their halls.

241 South Bond St. The funeral took place Wednesday, October 3, 1883.

The Article was published on October 1, 1883; the Saturday before would have been September 29.

JAMES L Joyce
25-E: 8
End of Watch: April 4, 1949
Baltimore City, Maryland, P.D.

On this day in Baltimore Police History, April 4, 1949, we lost our Brother Police officer, James Joyce, in an auto accident based on the following:

Officer James Joyce, 42 years of age, was stopped on Falls Road near the city line in his patrol car. Another vehicle driven by Frank Love, 21 years old, hit the railing on the Falls Road Bridge over the Pennsylvania Railroad, causing it to go out of control. Love’s vehicle struck the left side of Officer Joyce’s radio car, pushing it over the curb and up an embankment. Richard Farace, a passenger in Love’s car, was killed instantly. Officer Joyce received broken ribs, punctured lungs, and internal injuries; he was transported to Union Memorial Hospital, where he died of his wounds.

We, his brothers and sisters of the Baltimore Police Department, will not let him be forgotten. RIP Police Officer James Joyce and God Bless, for your service "Honored" the City of Baltimore and the Baltimore Police Department."

Sergeant William Jourdan 
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On this day in Baltimore Police History 1857, we lost our brother Sergeant William Jourdan to gunfire based on the following: The 1800’s were a mixing pot for Baltimore, made up of different nationalities that were struggling to find their political direction. A city divided into wards was literally fighting in the streets for control of everything from polling places to a political party. There was the “No Nothing Party” and “The Democratic Party” in 1857 alone, and tons of arrests were made for people shooting at police officers. While the police were charged with keeping the peace and maintaining order, it didn’t stop those they swore to protect from turning their guns on us; police were shot at on a regular basis.

14 October 1857 was like any other day in Baltimore, a confused society taking its misguided, misinformed political confusion out on the police. At the time, the police ran the city, and the commissioner panel, made up of Charles Howard, William H. Gatchell, Charles Hinks, and John W. Davis, was political in itself. Often,  these commissioners either went on to become mayors or were mayors who later became police commissioners and ran the city government. It was frustrating to the people of Baltimore, a port town made up of so many different nationalities, all vying for their place, to have some sort of identity and fair treatment. Sergeant William Jourdan fell victim to a bullet fired at him while keeping order at a polling place when he was shot for no other reason than that he wore the badge and uniform of a Baltimore Police Officer. He wasn’t out to arrest anyone; it wasn’t a wanted person, a robber, or a thief; it was a voter in the 5th ward at Gay and Front Street, ready to cast his ballot, but several Democratic candidates withdrew their names from consideration for seats on the city council. This served to quiet some of the trouble that had been brewing, but it didn’t stop around. At approximately 1:30 pm, with streets full of voters and political activists, a man on the roof of an Omnibus fired a pistol into the crowd. After discharging several rounds, many of the onlookers chased after him. The shooter ran through a store owned by Jehu Gorsush at the corner of Front and Gay Street, then onto the roof of that store, and finally escaped by descending through an adjacent house. Once again, those in the street began fighting. The situation demanded action by the on-scene police in order to prevent more fighting and an eventual riot.

Fortunate for nearly everyone there, one of the groups involved in the fighting retreated down High Street toward French Street. Wanting the retreat to continue, police did all they could to maintain the push, moving them further out of the area. As police encouraged the crowd to continue their move, the shots started up again, this time from a window of the Democratic headquarters, “Jackson Hall.”. One of the rounds struck Sgt. Jourdan, killing him within minutes. Lieutenant Carmichael took over, transporting Sgt. Jourdan’s lifeless body to his home near Ann Street and Eastern Avenue. 250 or more police officers attended his funeral; they came from all four districts. At 3:00 pm on October 15, 1857, a procession led by fellow officers carried his body to the Baltimore Cemetery. When his death was reported in the Baltimore Sun, he was remembered as being “Faithful, full of zeal for good order, looking for “Peace” in our city.”

There were seven people arrested and charged in this killing: 1) M. J. Grady, 2) Henry Burns, 3) Jas. Fawcett, 4) Thomas Murray, 5) William Quinn, 6) Chas. Reilly, and 7) Peter Ward, each indicted in Baltimore City for the murder of Sergeant William Jourdan, each as principal and each as an accessory to the murder on or about October 10, 1857.

As his brothers and sisters of the Baltimore Police Department, we will not let him be forgotten. His service honored the City of Baltimore and the Baltimore Police Department. May he rest in peace, and may God bless him.

(250 officers in attendance, how times have changed, about 2,000 police officers gathered to bury John Platt and Kevin McCarthy; in either case, they will be remembered the same.)