Matthias H. Rude
Agency patch
Guard

Matthias H. Rude

Seattle Police Department — Seattle, WA
Felonious
End of Watch September 24, 1910
Age 44
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 4 mo
The Vigil Panel 24 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Guard Matthias Rude was attacked and killed when a prisoner struck him on the head with a mattock in the Municipal Workhouse and Stockade (modern-day Jefferson Park). Guard Rude was assisting other officers guard 30 prisoners who were on a work detail. The prisoner who murdered him was sentenced to 10 years to life in prison, where he died in 1911. Guard Rude had served with the Seattle Police Department for three months and had previously served with the King County Sheriff's Office for four two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtn9ywkgjm84y5n6b9dvp
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Matthias. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Guard Rude gave the Seattle Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Seattle community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Rude.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Seattle, King County, WA
Platform Identity seatpd.king.wa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 24, 1910
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 4 mo
Age 44
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Edged weapon

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Matthias is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1910, 121 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 43rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Matthias was 44. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Matthias had served 2.3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon, in 2.2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Seattle Police Department has 60 officers remembered here, Matthias among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Guard Matthias H. Rude

Seattle Police Department · End of Watch September 24, 1910

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 53-E

↑