Roll of Honor
Incident
Postal Inspector Finton McMahon fell to his death while conducting an internal criminal investigation in the Akron, Ohio, Post Office.
He was inside the lookout gallery, located 20 feet above the workroom floor, and had just begun to climb down a steel ladder when he lost his footing. He fell down the ladder well and suffered a fatal head injury.
Older Post Offices were constructed with enclosed observation catwalks that were used to conduct surveillance when theft was suspected. Known as lookout galleries, these catwalks were very dark and cramped and often spanned several floors via straight shafts equipped with ladders.
Inspector McMahon had served with the United States Postal Inspection Service for nine years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-9C824888- 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.
Postal Inspector McMahon gave the United States Postal Inspection Service 9 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Postal Inspector McMahon.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Postal Inspector Finton T. McMahon is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In VA, 204 of 656 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.1% of this state's fallen. That is 31.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At United States Postal Inspection Service, 8 of 14 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 57.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Finton T. McMahon's cause is highlighted.
How Finton T. McMahon Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Finton T. McMahon is highlighted in Aug.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
13 officers from United States Postal Inspection Service are honored on badge.nw.
