Policeman

Charles Francis Dewees

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Accident
End of Watch January 12, 1918
Age 54
Tour of Duty 28 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Policeman Charles Dewees was killed when the horses pulling his patrol wagon were spooked by a sheet of paper that blew against their legs on Germantown Avenue, in front of the police station. He was thrown to the paving and suffered a broken neck. Policeman Dewees served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 28 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two sons, who were serving in the Army in World War I.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

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Tributes

28 years. You could have gone home.
Policeman Dewees gave the Philadelphia Police Department 28 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Dewees.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA
Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 12, 1918
Tour of Duty 28 yrs
Age 54
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Charles is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

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

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1918, 39 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 108th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Charles was 54. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Charles had served 28 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 7.7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 14.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Philadelphia Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Charles among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Policeman Charles Francis Dewees

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch January 12, 1918

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 3-W

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