Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Francis Ryan succumbed to injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash on October 17, 1922, on the Philadelphia Pike NB at Holly Oak Road in Wilmington. At 10:30 p.m., Officer Ryan was pursuing a speeder who refused to stop. He was able to pull up next to the vehicle and maneuver the car to the side of the road as it slowed down when another car traveling southbound struck him. Officer Ryan was thrown from his motorcycle, breaking his legs. The driver who hit Officer Ryan transported him to a nearby doctor before he was transferred to the Delaware Hospital. Officer Ryan succumbed to his injuries 16 days later. The speeding driver fled the scene and was never found. The driver who struck Officer Ryan was exonerated. Officer Ryan had served with the Delaware State Police for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-DE-D3358FB9- 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 Francis. 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 Ryan gave the Delaware State Police 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Delaware. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Ryan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Francis P. Ryan 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 DE, 19 of 51 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 37.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.3 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Delaware State Police, 11 of 21 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 52.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Francis P. Ryan's cause is highlighted.
How Francis P. Ryan Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Francis P. Ryan is highlighted in Nov.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
20 officers from Delaware State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
