Roll of Honor
Incident
Special Officer George Pray was shot and killed while attempting to take a man into custody in the neighboring town of Madbury, New Hampshire.
The subject had escaped from the Concord Insane Asylum several years earlier but had been permitted to live at home in Madbury with a guardian. The subject had become increasingly difficult to control, and the guardian requested assistance from the Dover city marshal.
Special Officer Pray was sent to the home, along with an assistant, to return the man to the asylum. They entered the house and found the subject eating dinner. The man immediately ran upstairs, and the two chased after him. As Officer Pray reached the top of the stairs, the subject exited a room and shot Officer Pray in the chest, inflicting a fatal wound.
The man escaped from the home but was arrested a short time later, hiding in his father's barn. He was returned to the Concord Insane Asylum, where he remained until dying in 1928.
Special Officer Pray was survived by his wife and three children.
Survivors
Special Officer Pray was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-NH-AEF4E904- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
138 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Special Officer Pray served with the Dover Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Dover community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Officer George E. Pray is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NH, 23 of 59 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 39% of this state's fallen. That is 15.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George E. Pray's cause is highlighted.
How George E. Pray Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George E. Pray is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. George E. Pray was killed by gun; unknown type.