Aberdeen Police Department, Washington
End of Watch: Tuesday, June 4, 1912
Age: 32
Tour of Duty: 13 years, 6 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: June 3, 1912
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Acquitted
Detective Welch was shot and killed after responding to a home after a woman called to report suspicious noises. When he arrived on the scene he was shot by the woman's husband, who mistook Detective Welch for a criminal. The husband had arrived home early from work to try to setup a trap for his wife, who he suspected of cheating on him. The husband was arrested, charged with murder, tried and acquitted.
Detective Welch had served with the Aberdeen Police Department for only 5 months and had previously served in law enforcement with the Seattle Police Department and San Francisco, California, Police Department.