Cincinnati Police Department, Ohio
End of Watch Sunday, March 26, 1876
Add to My HeroesJames Gallagher
Substitute Patrolman James Gallagher was shot and killed while investigating sounds of gunfire outside of his boarding house while off duty.
A drunk man had fired two shots at a group of strangers standing in front of the home at the corner of Longworth Street and Central Avenue. Hearing the shots, Patrolman Gallagher retrieved his revolver and went outside.
As he began to confront the subject, the man shot him twice. Despite being wounded, he was able to return fire and wounded the suspect. The man was subdued by a citizen. He was sentenced to only seven years in jail and pardoned after serving only two years. He died while serving a sentence for burglary in Rhode Island in 1887.
The Greater Cincinnati Firefighters Memorial sits on the spot where Substitute Patrolman James Gallagher was killed. It is also the location where Patrolman Samuel Robins, end of watch April 25, 1916, and Detective Albert Wegener and Policeman George LePoris, end of watch November 12, 1917, were killed.
Patrolman Gallagher had served with the Cincinnati Police Department for a few months. He was survived by his mother, sister, and brother, who served as a detective with the Louisville Police Department.
He is buried at Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati.
Bio
- Age 43
- Tour 3 months
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Incident Date Saturday, March 25, 1876
- Weapon Handgun; Revolver
- Offender Pardoned in 1878
Most Recent Reflection
View all 14 ReflectionsNEVER FORGET! Please join me and honor the dedicated service and ultimate sacrifice of Substitute Patrolman James Gallagher of the Cincinnati Police Department, Ohio and the additional 56 American Peace Officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on this date in history.
Superintendent Joe Morbitzer (Retired)
Ohio Attorneys General, Bureau of Criminal Investigation
March 26, 2024
Recent LODD Deaths
Police Officer Kyle Hicks
Corpus Christi Police Department, TX
EOW: April 24, 2024
Investigator John Hampton Coddou, III
Harris County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: April 23, 2024
Police Officer Jordan Wingate
Oakland Police Department, CA
EOW: April 20, 2024
Police Officer Luis M. Huesca
Chicago Police Department, IL
EOW: April 21, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Tobin Bolter
Ada County Sheriff's Office, ID
EOW: April 21, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Alfredo "Freddy" Flores
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA
EOW: April 20, 2024
Investigator Brian Herbert
Osage Nation Police Department, TR
EOW: April 17, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Fred Fislar
Hendricks County Sheriff's Office, IN
EOW: April 16, 2024
Police Officer Michael E. Jensen
Syracuse Police Department, NY
EOW: April 14, 2024