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David McConnell
Incident
Special Policeman David McConnell was killed while riding on the outside of a refrigerator car between the Chestnut Street bridge and Market Street bridge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, while patrolling the railroad line.
As the train came around a bend he struck several pieces of lumber that were laying across a railroad car parked on an adjacent track. He was knocked off of the car and suffered a fractured skull.
Special Policeman McConnell was a Union Army veteran of the Civil War.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. David is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Special Policeman McConnell served with the Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphpia community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
David McConnell served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department has lost 36 officers; 22 of them lost to accidents.
David is one of 417 officers lost to accidents in PA, 33% of the 1,262 remembered there.
David is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
David is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1901, 1 officer at Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department was lost to accidents, the 4th heaviest of 18 years on record. The heaviest was 1920, with 3.
In 1901, 1 officer in PA was lost to accidents, the 95th heaviest of 133 years on record. The heaviest was 1932, with 14.
In 1901, 18 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 121st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1901, 25 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 122nd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
David was 52. Of the 22 lost to accidents at Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 47.3; the middle age was 37.5.
David was 52. Of the 412 lost to accidents in PA whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48.3; the middle age was 38.
David was 52. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36.
David was 52. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36.
When
June holds 9.1% of these deaths at Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department; November holds the most, 22.7%. Sundays: 22.7%.
June holds 7.9% of these deaths in PA; October holds the most, 10.6%. Sundays: 16.3%.
June holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 14%.
June holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 61.1% of all 36 deaths at Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 33% of all 1,262 deaths in PA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department has 36 officers remembered here, David among them.
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William R. Plummer
Nov 25, 1879
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Augustus Fuchshuber
Aug 4, 1894
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William Lewis Jun 28, 1895
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Jesse Shisler Oct 16, 1899
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David McConnell
Jun 30, 1901
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John Mahoney Apr 13, 1906
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Charles L. D. Sidle Aug 5, 1906
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Edward B. Stanton Sep 5, 1908
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Harry Hinkson Boon Jun 30, 1909
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Frank David Mayrose Nov 13, 1912
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John Louis Beisser Oct 20, 1916
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William D. Bradley Jul 13, 1917
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Ralph Malcolm Mullen Sep 10, 1917
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John J. Ellis Sep 26, 1918
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Walter Henry Goscenski
Aug 3, 1919
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Charles S. Thurston
Feb 2, 1920
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Berry John Butcher Jul 10, 1920
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Frank P. Flynn Jul 18, 1920
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Richard J. Connor Dec 1, 1920
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Lloyd Bernard Leaman
Nov 23, 1921
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Gerald W. Sibert
Oct 5, 1922
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Charles W. Reinke Feb 14, 1923
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Joseph Windolph Lintner Jun 23, 1923
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Martin J. Gaffeney Mar 21, 1924
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Charles Henry Roeder May 30, 1924
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Walter F. Piatt
Nov 8, 1931
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Homer Elder Jul 7, 1932
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Adolph Bayer
Aug 10, 1932
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James J. Harrold Nov 3, 1932
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John A. Connor Jan 25, 1935
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Eugene A. Gurganus Oct 17, 1935
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Joseph E. Bixler
Nov 3, 1939
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Charles J. Westdhal, Jr. Dec 11, 1939
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Thomas F. Prince Dec 17, 1941
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Peter Shemela
Apr 18, 1944
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William J. Costello Jul 11, 1945
Where
Military Service
David McConnell served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit David McConnell’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
35 officers from Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
