Edward J. Costigan

Akron Police Department — Akron, OH

Felonious

End of Watch January 10, 1918

Age 39

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Badge 17

The Vigil Panel 33 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 27

Incident

Patrolman Edward Costigan and Patrolman Joseph Hunt were the second and third of four Akron Policemen to be shot and killed by members of an Italian gang in retaliation for the Akron Police Department's crackdown on their gambling dens and brothels. They were both shot several times in the back as they walked their beat in front of the Union Fireproof Warehouse Company at 27 North High Street. Officer Costigan died at the scene, and Officer Hunt succumbed to his wounds two days later. The gang was responsible for the deaths of Patrolman Guy Norris, shot and killed December 24, 1917, and Patrolman Gothin H. Richards, shot and killed March 12, 1918. The Akron Police Department was baffled by the murders, not realizing the gang's involvement until an anonymous phone caller implicated one of the gang members, who was arrested in New York. The suspect implicated five other gang members who were arrested and charged with murder. Four of the suspects were executed in Ohio's electric chair: one on October 14, 1918, two on February 21, 1919, and one on July 24, 1919. The other two suspects were sentenced to life in prison. One was released in 1934 and deported to Italy. The other suspect was denied parole in 1964. Patrolman Costigan had served with the Akron Police Department for just under 4 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his mother, two brothers, and five sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-0B95E123
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Costigan gave the Akron Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Akron community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Costigan.

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

Agency

Department Akron Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Akron, Summit County, OH

Platform Identity apd.summit.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 10, 1918

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 39

Badge Number 17

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Patrolman Edward J. Costigan 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 57.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Akron Police Department, 16 of 28 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this agency's fallen.

Akron Police Department

of 28 officers

57.1% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious