Daniel E. Doncaster
Agency patch
Chief of Police

Daniel E. Doncaster

Accident
End of Watch March 14, 1908
Age 31
The Vigil Panel 22 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief Daniel Doncaster died as the result of injuries sustained four days earlier while fighting a fire that destroyed a building at the corner of Penn Avenue and Wood Street.

While on the scene a fire hose struck Chief Doncaster in the leg, causing a deep wound. He was taken to Columbus Hospital, where blood poisoning set in. He died as a result four days later.

Chief Doncaster had previously served with the Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department and the Westmoreland County Sheriff's Office.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three children, mother, and four siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-2F4A23ED
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Doncaster served with the Wilkinsburg Borough Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Wilkinsburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Doncaster.

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

Agency

Location Wilkinsburg, PA
Platform Identity wilkpd.allegheny.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 14, 1908
Age 31
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Cause Detail Accidental

Chief of Police Daniel E. Doncaster is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In PA, 417 of 1,261 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.

At Wilkinsburg Borough Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Wilkinsburg Borough Police Department
1
of 2 officers
50% Accident
PA — Statewide
417
of 1,261 officers
33.1% Accident
Nationwide
10,088
of 32,508 officers
31% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Daniel E. Doncaster's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Daniel E. Doncaster Compares

Age at End of Watch
31
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Daniel E. Doncaster is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
707
May
847
Jun
795
Jul
897
Aug
937
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Wilkinsburg Borough Police Department are honored on badge.nw.