Fairmount Park Police Department, Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Monday, May 17, 1937
Age: 39
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Date of Incident: May 9, 1937
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Park Guard Michael McKenna succumbed to injuries sustained eight days earlier when he was crushed between a car and a large rock while riding on the running board of a vehicle.
Guard McKenna and his partner were on patrol when they were alerted that three boys had capsized in their canoe above the dam on Wissahickon Creek. One of the boys struck his head on a retaining wall and was knocked unconscious.
The two officers were able to pull the boy from the water and Guard McKenna's partner began to work on the boy as Guard McKenna went to Wissahickon Drive to commandeer a car. As the car drove back to the creek down a narrow path Guard McKenna was struck by a rock that was protruding into the path and suffered fatal injuries.
Guard McKenna had served with the Fairmount Park Police Department for eight years. He also served with the U.S. Army in Europe during WWI as a private with Company H, 61st Infantry Regiment, 5th "Red Diamond" Division.
Guard McKenna was survived by his wife and four children.