Joseph Louis Abrahams

Johnstown Police Department — Johnstown, PA

Felonious

End of Watch August 31, 1923

Age 36

The Vigil Panel 45 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 8

Incident

Special Officer Joseph Abrahams and Detective John James of the Cambria County District Attorney's Office were shot and killed during a riot in the city's Rosedale section. Two officers from the Johnstown Police Department also died as a result of wounds sustained during the riot. Detective Otto Nukem died on September 12th, 1923, and Captain Otto Fink died on November 2nd, 1923. The officers attempted to stop a disturbance involving several men when one, crazed from drinking moonshine, opened fire with a revolver. Other officers arriving on the scene shot and killed the suspect. Officer Abrahams was survived by his wife, four children, and his mother. He is buried at the Rodef Sholom Cemetary in Geistown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

Survivors

Officer Abrahams was survived by his wife, four children, and his mother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-094E9E4B
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Officer Abrahams served with the Johnstown Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Johnstown community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Abrahams.

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

Agency

Department Johnstown Police Department

Location Johnstown, PA

Platform Identity jpd.cambria.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 31, 1923

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Offender Shot and killed

Special Officer Joseph Louis Abrahams 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 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 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Johnstown Police Department, 4 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 44.4% of this agency's fallen.

Johnstown Police Department

of 9 officers

44.4% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious