Martin Gorman
Agency patch
Patrolman

Martin Gorman

Cincinnati Police Department — Cincinnati, OH
Felonious
End of Watch October 18, 1884
Age 35
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Badge 159
The Vigil Panel 8 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Martin Gorman, Patrolman Henry Schierloh, and Special Deputy Albert Russell of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office sustained fatal gunshot wounds during the Election Riot of 1884. Over 1,300 men had been deputized by a United States Marshal in an effort to prevent voting fraud during a contentious election. Many of the deputized men were criminals who began feuding with the Cincinnati police officers and Hamilton County deputies who were also assigned to protect the polling stations. As election day progressed, the tension between the two groups escalated and resulted in over 100 shots fired, 24 casualties (including Deputy Russell), five dying (including Patrolman Gorman), two seriously wounded (including Patrolman Schierloh), and 15 wounded. Patrolman Gorman died on October 18th from an infection in the bullet wound. Patrolman Schierloh's wound was thought to be non-fatal, but it was discovered that the bullet moved upward into his body and into the liver; he died 12 days after the riot on October 30th. Patrolman Gorman had served with the Cincinnati Police Department for three years. He was survived by his wife and daughter. He is buried in St. Joseph's Cemetery.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-A8573B9E
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

142 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Gorman gave the Cincinnati Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cincinnati community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH
Platform Identity cincpd.hamilton.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 18, 1884
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 35
Badge Number 159
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Patrolman Martin Gorman 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 97,772 officers honored here.

In OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 57.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Cincinnati Police Department, 63 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.4% of this agency's fallen.

Cincinnati Police Department
63
of 106 officers
59.4% Felonious
OH — Statewide
572
of 991 officers
57.7% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Martin Gorman's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Martin Gorman Compares

Age at Death
35
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
3
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Martin Gorman is highlighted in Oct.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Martin Gorman was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909