Officer

Willie R. Gawen

Metropolitan Police Department — Washington, DC
Accident
End of Watch March 2, 1915
Age 31
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
The Vigil Panel 29 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Willie Gawen was killed in a bicycle accident while on patrol with a fellow officer near 7th and Q Streets, NW. Officer Gawen's partner heard a noise and when he turned around he discovered Officer Gawen laying in the street unconscious. It is believed that Officer Gawen struck a pile of debris that had been put in the street following a fire at 1526 7th Street. Officer Gawen had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two young 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 Gawen gave the Metropolitan Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Gawen.

— 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 March 2, 1915
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 31
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Willie is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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 1915, 28 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 116th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Willie was 31. 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. Willie 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

March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.

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

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Willie R. Gawen

Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch March 2, 1915

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 34-E

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