William "Mox" McQuery

Covington Police Department — Covington, KY

Felonious

End of Watch June 12, 1900

Age 39

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 16 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 8

Incident

Patrolman Mox McQuery succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained three days earlier by two murder suspects he was attempting to arrest at the base of the Cincinnati-Covington Bridge. The two men had just murdered another tramp a short distance away and had boarded a streetcar toward Cincinnati. Patrolman McQuery and other officers went to the bridge and stopped the streetcar. Patrolman McQuery ordered the men to exit the car, and as they stepped to the pavement they both drew revolvers and exchanged shots with Patrolman McQuery. Patrolman McQuery was struck in the chest by one of the shots. One of the men was wounded and arrested. The second man began to run across the bridge, but when he saw officers from Cincinnati approaching he jumped from the middle of the span into the Ohio River 100-feet below. He was arrested after swimming to shore. Patrolman McQuery was taken to a hospital in Cincinnati where he died three days later. His killer was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in the Kentucky State Penitentiary at Frankfort. He was shot and killed while trying to escape on August 20th, 1902. Patrolman McQuery had formerly played professional baseball for the Detroit Tigers. He had served with the Covington Police Department for four years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-6715B984
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman McQuery gave the Covington Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Covington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman McQuery.

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

Agency

Department Covington Police Department

Location Covington, KY

Platform Identity cpd.kenton.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 12, 1900

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed in prison

Patrolman William "Mox" McQuery 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Covington Police Department, 5 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.6% of this agency's fallen.

Covington Police Department

of 9 officers

55.6% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious