Mathew P. McDonagh
Agency patch
Policeman

Mathew P. McDonagh

Los Angeles Police Department — Los Angeles, CA
Accident
End of Watch December 16, 1923
Age 28
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Badge 468
The Vigil Panel 46 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Policeman McDonagh was killed when his police motorcycle was struck by a train in downtown Los Angeles. Policeman McDonagh had served with the Los Angeles Police Department for 3 years and was survived by his expectant wife. Policeman McDonagh's son, grandson, and great-grandson all went on to serve with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Survivors

Policeman McDonagh had served with the Los Angeles Police Department for 3 years and was survived by his expectant wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-007BFDF7
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.
Policeman McDonagh gave the Los Angeles Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman McDonagh.

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

Agency

Location Los Angeles, CA
Platform Identity lapd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 16, 1923
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 28
Badge Number 468
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Policeman Mathew P. McDonagh 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 CA, 719 of 1,837 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.1% of this state's fallen. That is 8.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.

At Los Angeles Police Department, 97 of 240 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 40.4% of this agency's fallen.

Los Angeles Police Department
97
of 240 officers
40.4% Accident
CA — Statewide
719
of 1,837 officers
39.1% Accident
Nationwide
10,088
of 32,508 officers
31% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Mathew P. McDonagh'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 Mathew P. McDonagh Compares

Age at End of Watch
28
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years
Years of Service
3
This officer
Avg for Accident: 9.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Mathew P. McDonagh is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
707
May
847
Jun
795
Jul
897
Aug
937
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897

Incident Location