Roll of Honor
Herbert Mitchell Gash
Incident
Location: Illinois Incident Date: Saturday, July 26, 1958 Weapon: Handgun Offender: Sentenced to 9 years
Railroad Detective Herbert Gash succumbed to gunshot wound sustained three days earlier while patrolling the Southern Railway's yards in East St. Louis, Illinois.
He and a railroad car inspector were walking along the railroad's right of way when they observed a man washing his face in a small pond. The inspector continued walking as Detective Gash began to speak to the man. The subject suddenly produced a handgun and shot Detective Gash in the abdomen.
Detective Gash returned fire as the subject fled on foot. He was taken to St. Mary's Hospital where he remained until succumbing to his wound three days later.
A 38-year-old ex-convict was arrested several weeks later and charged with murder. On May 4, 1959, he was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 9 years.
Detective Gash was a U.S. Army veteran. He was survived by his mother and four siblings. He was predeceased by one brother. He was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Belleville, Illinois.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother and four siblings.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-RR-B29294AF- Stewardship
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- 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.
Railroad Detective Gash served with the Southern Railway Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Herbert Mitchell Gash served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Railroad Detective Herbert Mitchell Gash 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Southern Railway Police Department, 17 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 94.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Herbert Mitchell Gash's cause is highlighted.
How Herbert Mitchell Gash Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 9 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Herbert Mitchell Gash is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Herbert Mitchell Gash was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from Southern Railway Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
