Substitute Patrolman Edward Gallagher

Edward Gallagher

Substitute Patrolman Edward 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.

Patrolman Gallagher was survived by his brother, who served as a detective with the Louisville Police Department.