John Brasher

Cincinnati Police Department — Cincinnati, OH

Felonious

End of Watch May 6, 1849

Age 36

The Vigil Panel 1 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 105

Incident

Watchman John Brasher was shot and killed on May 6th, 1849, while pursuing a suspect who had broken into the Good Samaritan Drug Store at Central Avenue and Court Street the previous day. A warrant had been issued for the suspect and he was tracked to Madam Davis' house at 15th and Elm Streets. Police surrounded the house and demanded the suspect surrender. The man ran out of the rear door and shot Watchman Brasher during a foot chase.

Survivors

Watchman Brasher was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-2B017E6B
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

177 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Watchman Brasher served with the Cincinnati Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Cincinnati community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Cincinnati Police Department

Location Cincinnati, OH

Platform Identity cincpd.hamilton.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 6, 1849

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender life sentence; pardoned 1874;

Watchman John Brasher 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Cincinnati Police Department, 63 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.4% of this agency's fallen.

Cincinnati Police Department

of 106 officers

59.4% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious