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Patrolman

Edward J. Costigan

Akron Police Department — Akron, OH

Felonious

End of Watch January 10, 1918

Age 39

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Badge 17

The Vigil Panel 77 · Column 2 · Line 7 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 27

Incident

Patrolman Edward Costigan and Patrolman Joseph Hunt were the second and third of four Akron Policemen to be shot and killed by members of an Italian gang in retaliation for the Akron Police Department's crackdown on their gambling dens and brothels. They were both shot several times in the back as they walked their beat in front of the Union Fireproof Warehouse Company at 27 North High Street. Officer Costigan died at the scene, and Officer Hunt succumbed to his wounds two days later. The gang was responsible for the deaths of Patrolman Guy Norris, shot and killed December 24, 1917, and Patrolman Gothin H. Richards, shot and killed March 12, 1918. The Akron Police Department was baffled by the murders, not realizing the gang's involvement until an anonymous phone caller implicated one of the gang members, who was arrested in New York. The suspect implicated five other gang members who were arrested and charged with murder. Four of the suspects were executed in Ohio's electric chair: one on October 14, 1918, two on February 21, 1919, and one on July 24, 1919. The other two suspects were sentenced to life in prison. One was released in 1934 and deported to Italy. The other suspect was denied parole in 1964. Patrolman Costigan had served with the Akron Police Department for just under 4 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his mother, two brothers, and five sisters.

In Our Keeping

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Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Costigan gave the Akron Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Akron community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Costigan.

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

Agency

Department Akron Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Akron, Summit County, OH

Platform Identity apd.summit.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 10, 1918

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 39

Badge Number 17

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Edward 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.

Compare against

Time

In 1918, 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

Who

Edward was 39. 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. Edward had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded