Ralph Emerson Dailey
Agency patch
Chief of Police

Ralph Emerson Dailey

Felonious
End of Watch July 29, 1918
Age 26
Badge CHIEF
The Vigil Panel 34 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief of Police Ralph Dailey and Chief of Police Edward Brennan, of the Wyoming Borough Police Department, were shot and killed by a man who was creating a disturbance in West Wyoming Borough. Chief Dailey was attempting to disperse a crowd of people when the suspect opened fire, killing him. The suspect fled to Wyoming Borough where he was confronted by Chief Brennan. As Chief Brennan chased the suspect, the suspect turned and shot him. The man was apprehended but acquitted of both murders because the evidence presented in the trial was mostly circumstantial.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-816D41C9
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.
Chief of Police Dailey served with the West Wyoming Borough Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the West Wyoming community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Dailey.

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

Agency

Location West Wyoming, PA
Platform Identity wwbpd.luzerne.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 29, 1918
Age 26
Badge Number CHIEF
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Acquitted

Chief of Police Ralph Emerson Dailey 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%.

West Wyoming Borough Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
PA — Statewide
597
of 1,261 officers
47.3% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ralph Emerson Dailey's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Ralph Emerson Dailey Compares

Age at End of Watch
26
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Acquitted

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ralph Emerson Dailey is highlighted in Jul.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ralph Emerson Dailey was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518