Donald W. Downs
Agency patch
Officer

Donald W. Downs

Metropolitan Police Department — Washington, DC
Felonious
End of Watch September 1, 1946
Age 27
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
The Vigil Panel 82 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Donald Downs was struck and killed by a drunk driver while directing traffic at 7th Street and Maine Avenue, SW. The driver jumped the curb and struck him. The man attempted to flee the scene but was apprehended. Officer Downs had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for seven years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Downs gave the Metropolitan Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Downs.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity mpdc.dc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 1, 1946
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 27
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Donald is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1946, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Donald was 27. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Donald had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

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 automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Metropolitan Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Donald among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Donald W. Downs

Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch September 1, 1946

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 22-W

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