Ebenezer Parker
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Ebenezer Parker

Felonious
End of Watch January 18, 1808
Age 48
The Vigil Panel 1 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Ebenezer Parker succumbed to injuries sustained one week earlier when he was beaten over the head with a sleigh arm while attempting to serve a warrant. Deputy Parker had located the man, wanted for failing to pay a debt, in Westbrook. When Deputy Parker entered the location, a blacksmith shop at 916 Main Street, he was attacked by the owner of the shop and beaten. Deputy Parker went home and succumbed to injuries a week later. The man was convicted of Deputy Parker's murder and hanged in July 1808. The subject wanted for not paying debts was acquitted of accessory to murder. Deputy Parker was survived by his wife and two sons. At the time of Deputy Parker's murder, Maine had not yet been formed as a state, and Cumberland County was a part of Massachusetts. As of 2022, Deputy Parker is the first known fallen officer in New England History.

Survivors

Deputy Parker was survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-ME-F9628AA0
Stewardship
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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Tributes

218 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Parker served with the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Portland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Portland, Cumberland County, ME
Platform Identity cumbso.cumberland.me.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 18, 1808
Age 48
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Blunt object

Deputy Sheriff Ebenezer Parker is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In ME, 43 of 102 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.2% of this state's fallen. That is 42.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Cumberland County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Cumberland County Sheriff's Office
2
of 3 officers
66.7% Felonious
ME — Statewide
43
of 102 officers
42.2% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ebenezer Parker's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Ebenezer Parker Compares

Age at Death
48
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ebenezer Parker is highlighted in Jan.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ebenezer Parker was killed by blunt object.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Cumberland County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.