Roll of Honor
August John Essman
Incident
Location: Arizona Incident Date: Thursday, November 26, 1942 Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Sentenced to death
First Lieutenant August Essman succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained three days earlier during a riot between army soldiers and military police near 17th Street and East Washington Street in Phoenix, Arizona.
A military police officer had been called to a cafe at 13th Street and East Washington Street to investigate an assault of a female being hit in the head with a bottle by a soldier. Once military police arrived, the soldier resisted arrest and attempted to flee. In an attempt to stop the soldier from fleeing, a warning shot was fired into a concrete floor, striking another soldier not involved in the incident in the leg. A group of soldiers immediately attacked a group of military police officers investigating the original assault. Additional military police officers were called to the area as well as Phoenix Police Department to help quell the disturbance.
The second flare-up of soldiers attacking military police officers occurred near 1406 East Washington Street, which was quickly quieted.
The next day, 150 soldiers were lined up to board buses to return to camp. An army truck carrying military police was being followed by soldiers in a private vehicle. As the military police were dismounting, the soldiers in the private vehicle attacked the military police. A shot was fired, causing military police officers to return fire. During the three-hour gun battle, First Lieutenant Essman was shot in the abdomen. First Lieutenant Essman was taken to Saint Joseph's Hospital, where he died from his injury.
As a result of the riots, 180 soldiers were jailed, 12 were wounded, and two were killed, including a civilian. The military court-martialed 27 men: one was sentenced to death, three were sentenced to 25-50-years prison terms, three were sentenced to 20-year terms, five were sentenced to ten-year prison terms, three soldiers were declared insane, three were acquitted, and charges were dropped against all the others.
First Lieutenant Essman served with the United States Army Military Police Corps for five months and was attached to the 777th Military Police Battalion at Papago Park Military Reservation.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son.
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- 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.
First Lieutenant Essman served with the United States Army Military Police Corps.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
August John Essman served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
First Lieutenant August John Essman 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Army Military Police Corps, 26 of 65 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. August John Essman's cause is highlighted.
How August John Essman Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. August John Essman is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. August John Essman was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
64 officers from United States Army Military Police Corps are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
