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Frank Caswin
Agency patch
Police Officer

Frank Caswin

Milwaukee Police Department — Milwaukee, WI
Felonious
United States flag Wisconsin flag
End of Watch November 24, 1917
Age 30
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 76 · Column 4 · Line 10 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 68

Incident

Police Officer Frank Caswin was killed when a bomb exploded in the department's Central Police Station. Officer Caswin had served with the Milwaukee Police Department for two years. Nine Milwaukee police officers and two civilians were killed when a bomb exploded inside of the Central Police Station at the intersection of Broadway and Oneida Street (modern-day Wells Street). The bomb had been found in an alley between a church and its adjacent mission house. A church member and citizen brought the bomb to the police station and gave it to Station Keeper Henry Deckert, who took it to the assembly room as roll call was starting. As the officers examined the device it exploded, killing eight officers inside of the room, one officer in the radio room above the assembly room, and two civilians who were inside of the station. No suspects were ever identified but it was believed at the time that the bomb had been placed at the church by anarchist sympathizers.

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August 2, 2026
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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Caswin gave the Milwaukee Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Milwaukee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Caswin.

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

Agency

Department Milwaukee Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI
Platform Identity mpd.milwaukee.wi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 24, 1917
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 30
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Explosives

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Frank is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1917, 165 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Frank was 30. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Frank had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was explosives, in 0.3% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Milwaukee Police Department has 69 officers remembered here, Frank among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Frank Caswin

Milwaukee Police Department · End of Watch November 24, 1917

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 51-W

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