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Patrolman

John Henry Jones Sellman

McKeesport Police Department — McKeesport, PA

Veteran → Accident

End of Watch March 18, 1936

Age 41

Badge 113

The Vigil Panel 71 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 7

Incident

Patrolman John Sellman drowned on Market Street while attempting to rescue victims of a flood caused when the Monongahela River overflowed. During the rescue operations he fell from the boat into the raging waters. His body was recovered on April 21st, 1936.

Patrolman Sellman was a veteran of the Pennsylvania National Guard.

My late Mom, Julia Hopey-Midlo, and, her family, was in 3 floods, in the old First Ward, McKeesport PA. 1930s, 1940s.

The most Notable Was the 1936 flood.

My maternal Grandmother, Anna Chopey, said she saw that policeman, Officer Selman, go down in the flood.

My Mom's family lived at 133 Second Ave, First Ward.

Joan Midlo Daughter/Granddaughter March 22nd, 2024

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-B1FE5FA6
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Sellman served with the McKeesport Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the McKeesport community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department McKeesport Police Department

Type Police Department

Location McKeesport, Allegheny County, PA

Platform Identity mpd.allegheny.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 18, 1936

Age 41

Badge Number 113

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

John Henry Jones Sellman served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman John Henry Jones Sellman is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 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 33.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At McKeesport Police Department, 3 of 8 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 37.5% of this agency's fallen.

McKeesport Police Department

of 8 officers

37.5% Accident

PA — Statewide

417

of 1,261 officers

33.1% Accident

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Accident