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Michael Franklin Knapp
Incident
Interim Police Chief Michael Knapp succumbed to injuries sustained the previous evening when he was struck by a pickup truck in the 200 block of Fourth Street.
He was crossing the street to attend a special city council meeting at the city hall introducing the three finalists for the permanent police chief position. The vehicle that struck him had its headlights off after sunset. Chief Knapp was flown to a hospital in Seattle with severe injuries and died the following day.
Chief Knapp was a United States Army veteran and had been appointed the interim police chief six months earlier. He was a former Police Officer with the Milpitas, California Police Department and a Deputy Sheriff with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office. He was the Chief of Police for the City of Medina, Washington, between 1998 and 2003, and was appointed Chief of Police for the City of Ferndale, Washington, in September 2005, where he served until his retirement in 2016. Chief Knapp was a member of the California Bar Association and is a graduate of the 100th Session of the FBI National Academy and the Foreign Service Institute, United States Department of State.
Chief Knapp was a United States Army veteran and had been appointed the interim police chief six months earlier. He was a former Police Officer with the Milpitas, California Police Department and a Deputy Sheriff with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office. He was the Chief of Police for the City of Medina, Washington, between 1998 and 2003, and was appointed Chief of Police for the City of Ferndale, Washington, in September 2005, where he served until his retirement in 2016. Chief Knapp was a member of the California Bar Association and is a graduate of the 100th Session of the FBI National Academy and the Foreign Service Institute, United States Department of State.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, daughter, and two grandchildren.
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. Michael 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.
Interim Police Chief Knapp gave the Lynden Police Department 49 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lynden 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
Michael Franklin Knapp served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
Lynden Police Department has lost 2 officers; 1 of them lost to accidents.
Michael is one of 111 officers lost to accidents in WA, 32.6% of the 340 remembered there.
Michael is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Michael 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 2019, 2 officers in WA were lost to accidents, the 9th heaviest of 70 years on record. The heaviest was 1968, with 5.
In 2019, 45 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 103rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2019, 46 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 110th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Michael was 79. Of the 92 lost to accidents in WA whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 46.3; the middle age was 38. Michael had served 49 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Michael was 79. 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. Michael had served 49 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Michael was 79. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Michael had served 49 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
November holds 15.3% of these deaths in WA, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 15.3%.
November holds 8.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
November holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Wednesdays: 14.6%.
How
Accident deaths account for 50% of all 2 deaths at Lynden Police Department, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 32.6% of all 340 deaths in WA, 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
Lynden Police Department has 2 officers remembered here, Michael among them.
Where
Military Service
Michael Franklin Knapp served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit Michael Franklin Knapp’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 21-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Lynden Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
