United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Bureau of Prohibition, U.S. Government
End of Watch: Sunday, October 28, 1928
Age: 30
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Explosion
Date of Incident: October 28, 1928
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Storekeeper-Gauger Francis Sears was killed in a massive explosion at the Publickers Alcohol Plant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The plant took up the entire block bounded by Water Street, Snyder Avenue, and McKean Street, and Swanson Street.
A mechanic was working on a cistern when a spark caused a massive explosion, destroying the entire plant. The mechanic and Storekeeper Sears were both killed, and several other people were injured.
Storekeeper Sears was a U.S. Navy WW I veteran and U.S. Navy Reserves veteran who served as a policeman at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and served with the United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Bureau of Prohibition. He was survived by his wife, daughter, and son.