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Deputy Constable

George A. Davidson

Delaware City Police Department — Delaware City, DE

Felonious

End of Watch May 7, 1852

Age 25

The Vigil Panel 1 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Constable George Davidson succumbed to a stab wound sustained the previous day while transporting a prisoner to the jail in New Castle.

When the wagon was about three miles from the jail the prisoner, whose hands had been bound, was able to free his hands from the rope and stabbed Deputy Constable Davidson in the shoulder with a dirk. He then stabbed him a second time in the arm, severing an artery.

Deputy Constable Davidson was able to chase the man a short distance before collapsing. A passerby found him and took him to a nearby house where he died the following morning.

The subject was arrested, charged with Deputy Constable Davidson's murder, and convicted. He was subsequently executed by hanging in September 1852.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-DE-33661FAD
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

174 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Constable Davidson served with the Delaware City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Delaware City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Delaware City Police Department

Location Delaware City, DE

Platform Identity dpd.newcastle.de.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 7, 1852

Age 25

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Stabbed

Weapon Edged weapon; Dirk

Offender Executed in 1852

Deputy Constable George A. Davidson 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 DE, 25 of 51 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 49% of this state's fallen. That is 5.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

Delaware City Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

DE — Statewide

of 51 officers

49% 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. George A. Davidson'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 George A. Davidson Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Executed in 1852

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George A. Davidson is highlighted in May.

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. George A. Davidson was killed by edged weapon; dirk.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518