Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Ernest Wessells was killed in a motorcycle accident at the intersection of Piney Branch Road and Butternut Street, NW, while responding to a call that turned out to be a false alarm. His motorcycle collided with a street car head-on, causing him to suffer severe injuries. He was transported to Walter Reed Hospital but died before arriving. Officer Wessells had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for seven years and was assigned to the Sixth Precinct.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-DC-3D9BB16F- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Ernest. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Wessells gave the Metropolitan Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Wessells.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Ernest T. Wessells 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 DC, 454 of 1,419 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Metropolitan Police Department, 48 of 131 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 36.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ernest T. Wessells's cause is highlighted.
How Ernest T. Wessells Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Ernest T. Wessells is highlighted in Apr.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
130 officers from Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
