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Railroad Policeman

John Louis Beisser

Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department — Philadelphpia, PA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch October 20, 1916

Age 36

The Vigil Panel 31 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 35

Incident

Location: Pennsylvania Weapon: Handgun; Revolver Offender: Executed in 1917

Railroad Policeman John Beisser was shot and killed as he attempted to arrest two men for illegal train riding near West Fairview, Pennsylvania.

One of the men opened fire with a revolver, killing Policeman Beisser instantly, and critically wounding another railroad policeman with him. Railroad workers and West Fairview residents chased the suspects to the nearby shore of the Susquehanna River where they were apprehended.

The shooter was convicted of first degree murder and executed in the electric chair November 12th, 1917.

Policeman Beisser was a U.S. Army veteran of the Spanish American War.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-RR-3150B91C
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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. John is one person.

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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.
Railroad Policeman Beisser served with the Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphpia community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Philadelphpia, PA

Platform Identity pennpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 20, 1916

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Military Service

John Louis Beisser served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Railroad Policeman John Louis Beisser 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 97,759 officers honored here.

In PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 47.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department, 13 of 36 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 36.1% of this agency's fallen.

Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department

of 36 officers

36.1% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious