Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Edwin Osgood was fatally stabbed by a suspect that approached him to report a larceny. While patrolling his beat, Officer Osgood was approached by a man at the corner of Pacific Avenue and Dupont Avenue (modern day Grant Avenue) at approximately 3:15 am. The man reported that his watch had been taken from him at a low den and he wanted Officer Osgood's assistance in retrieving it. Officer Osgood explained to the man that making a search for such a small article would be useless at that hour and referred the man to the chief's office where he could make a report in the morning. The man left and crossed the street, but returned a few moments later and suddenly stabbed Officer Osgood in neck and fled. Officer Osgood tried to sound his whistle, but because of his wound, he was unable to. A passing citizen sounded the whistle, alerting other officers who responded and removed Officer Osgood to the hospital. He succumbed to his wounds four days later. The subject who stabbed him was never identified. Officer Osgood had served with the San Francisco Police Department for eight years. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter, and he is buried at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Fresno, California. In 1902 Officer Osgood's photograph was installed at the San Francisco Police Headquarters, along with four other officers killed in the line of duty, where it was displayed until the California earthquake of 1906 when all of the portraits were lost.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter, and he is buried at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Fresno, California.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-748C8D17- 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
140 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Officer Osgood gave the San Francisco Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Edwin J. Osgood 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At San Francisco Police Department, 66 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Edwin J. Osgood's cause is highlighted.
How Edwin J. Osgood Compares
Offender Outcome
Never identified
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Edwin J. Osgood is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Edwin J. Osgood was killed by edged weapon; knife.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
105 officers from San Francisco Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
