Preston E. Bradley

Metropolitan Police Department — Washington, DC

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch February 21, 1921

Age 31

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 40 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 130

Incident

Officer Preston Bradley was killed when he was struck by a vehicle while directing traffic with another officer at 7th and O Streets, NW. The officers saw the vehicle approaching and refusing to slow down. As the car passed both officers jumped on the running boards. The vehicle accelerated and struck a streetcar in the next intersection, pinning Officer Bradley between the two vehicles. He succumbed to major internal injuries received in the accident. Officer Bradley was a United States Army veteran of WWI and had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, sister, and two brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-DC-84F4B10C
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Officer Bradley gave the Metropolitan Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Metropolitan Police Department

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity mpdc.dc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 21, 1921

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 31

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile

Offender Apprehended

Military Service

Preston E. Bradley served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Officer Preston E. Bradley 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Metropolitan Police Department, 70 of 131 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.4% of this agency's fallen.

Metropolitan Police Department

of 131 officers

53.4% Felonious

DC — Statewide

754

of 1,419 officers

53.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious