John C. Middlekauff

Hagerstown Police Department — Hagerstown, MD

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch August 17, 1914

Age 36

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 5 mo

The Vigil Panel 29 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Officer John Middlekauff succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained on August 15th, 1914, at about 3:00 am while investigating gunfire in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad yards between Antietam Street and Baltimore Street. He had split up from the other two officers as the three searched for the suspects. The other officers found three men in an alley. When Officer Middlekauff joined them in the alley, they attempted to apprehend the subjects. One of the men pulled out a gun, shot Officer Middlekauff in the abdomen, and fled on Baltimore Street. Despite his wound, Officer Middlekauf was able to return fire, striking one of the subjects in the wrist before collapsing. He was transported to Doctor Ragan's office at the Dagmar Motel. Two suspects were apprehended the following day and positively identified by Officer Middlekauff from his deathbed. The shooter was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 18 years in prison. Officer Middlekauff was a veteran of the Spanish-American War and had served with the Hagerstown Police Department for 2-1/2 years. He was survived by his expectant wife, two sons, and his parents. His daughter was born six months after his death.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife, two sons, and his parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MD-76CD37FB
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.
Officer Middlekauff gave the Hagerstown Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Hagerstown community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Hagerstown Police Department

Location Hagerstown, MD

Platform Identity hpd.washington.md.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 17, 1914

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 5 mo

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentenced to 18 years

Military Service

John C. Middlekauff served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Officer John C. Middlekauff 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 MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 2.5 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Hagerstown Police Department, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Hagerstown Police Department

of 6 officers

66.7% Felonious

MD — Statewide

195

of 377 officers

51.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious