Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Police Department, Railroad Police
End of Watch Sunday, June 7, 1914
Add to My HeroesCleveland Kemp
Railroad Detective Cleveland Kemp was killed after being struck in the back of the head with an iron pick while patrolling the rail yards at Silver Grove, Kentucky.
He was regularly assigned to Cincinnati but had been sent to Silver Grove due to a rash of box car thefts that had occurred there. He was seen following two hobos along the tracks at approximately 2:00 am.
He wasn't seen again until his body was located by two boys after daybreak. He had been stabbed in the back of the head with an iron pick, which was found nearby. His body was placed in a ditch and covered with cinders.
On March 25th, 1914, Railroad Detective Leslie Johnson was fatally shot in the same railroad yards and died two days later. Investigators at the time believed that the same subjects committed both murders. It is not known if anyone was ever charged with either murder.
Detective Kemp was survived by his wife and one child.
Bio
- Age 30
- Tour Not available
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Assault
- Location Kentucky
- Weapon Edged weapon
- Offender Not available
Most Recent Reflection
View all 6 ReflectionsTo fully appreciate the heroes of the present, we must recognize our heroes of the past. Your heroism and service is honored today, the 102nd anniversary year of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer who was murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.
Time never diminishes respect. Your memory will always be honored and revered. Rest In Peace
Phyllis Lasater Loya
mom of fallen Pittsburg Officer Larry Lasater, eow 4/24/05
August 21, 2016
Recent LODD Deaths

Lieutenant Jeff Bain
DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, AL
EOW: January 3, 2021

Correctional Officer David A. Christensen
Washington State Department of Corrections, WA
EOW: December 29, 2020

Lieutenant John Reynolds
Garden Grove Police Department, CA
EOW: January 17, 2021

Corrections Officer Joseph A. Martini
Ulster County Sheriff's Office, NY
EOW: January 17, 2021

Police Officer Arturo Villegas
Alamo Police Department, GA
EOW: January 10, 2021

Deputy Sheriff Jon Melvin
Grant County Sheriff's Office, WA
EOW: December 11, 2020

Deputy Sheriff Adam Gibson
Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, CA
EOW: January 18, 2021

Police Officer Brandon Stalker
Toledo Police Department, OH
EOW: January 18, 2021

Police Officer Jay Hughes
Kalispel Tribal Police Department, TR
EOW: January 6, 2021