Roll of Honor
Joseph E. Shawhan
Incident
Private Joseph Shawhan was killed in an automobile crash while pursuing a traffic violator on the Mount Vernon Memorial Boulevard (modern-day George Washington Memorial Parkway) in Fairfax County, Virginia, three miles south of Alexandria. He had just dropped his partner off for lunch when it is believed he attempted to stop a speeding vehicle. His patrol car went out of control on the wet roadway and struck a tree. Private Shawhan was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the United States Park Police for 24 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-F7629676- 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.
Private Shawhan gave the United States Department of the Interior 24 years.
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
Joseph E. Shawhan served in the Other before joining law enforcement.
Private Joseph E. Shawhan 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 United States Department of the Interior - United States Park Police, 7 of 13 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 53.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph E. Shawhan's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph E. Shawhan Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph E. Shawhan is highlighted in Apr.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from United States Department of the Interior - United States Park Police are honored on badge.nw.
