Jersey Central Railroad Police Department, Railroad Police
End of Watch: Friday, July 4, 1902
Age:
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Struck by train
Date of Incident: July 4, 1902
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Detective William Hanson and Patrolman John Cosgrove were struck and killed by a train while patrolling the Jersey Central lines near the Communipaw Avenue Station in Jersey City, New Jersey.
The two officers, and a friend who sometimes accompanied them on patrol, were searching for a gang of thieves.
It is believed they saw a train coming on one track and stepped onto another track to get out of its way. They failed to see a train coming on the second track as well and all three were struck and killed. Their bodies were found a short time later by a train engineer on another train.