Roll of Honor
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
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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
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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John Henry Jones Sellman served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman John Henry Jones Sellman is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 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 2.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
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.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Henry Jones Sellman's cause is highlighted.
How John Henry Jones Sellman Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John Henry Jones Sellman is highlighted in Mar.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from McKeesport Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
