Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

Edward Harper

Kenton Police Department — Kenton, OH

Felonious

End of Watch March 31, 1891

The Vigil Panel 10 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 2

Incident

Patrolman Edward Harper was stabbed to death after responding to reports of a disturbance involving a drunk man.

The man stabbed him in the neck as Patrolman Harper attempted to make an arrest.

The suspect was arrested but lynched by a mob before he could stand trial.

Patrolman Harper was survived by his wife and two children.

Survivors

Patrolman Harper was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-BB068C4C
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

135 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Harper served with the Kenton Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Kenton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Kenton Police Department

Location Kenton, OH

Platform Identity kpd.hardin.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 31, 1891

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

Offender Lynched by mob

Patrolman Edward Harper 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 Kenton Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Kenton Police Department

of 3 officers

66.7% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Edward Harper's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Edward Harper Compares

Offender Outcome

Lynched by mob

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Edward Harper is highlighted in Mar.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Edward Harper was killed by edged weapon; knife.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Kenton Police Department are honored on badge.nw.