Prev Next

Patrolman

Joseph H. Hunt

Akron Police Department — Akron, OH

Felonious

End of Watch January 12, 1918

Age 33

Tour of Duty 3 mo

Badge 73

The Vigil Panel 33 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 27

Incident

Patrolman Joseph Hunt and Patrolman Edward Costigan 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. Patrolman Costigan died at the scene, and Patrolman 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 4, 1918, two on February 19, 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. Officer Hunt had served with the Akron Police Department for three months. He was survived by his wife and three children. One of his sons became an Akron police officer.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: neuraspine_01krbxtn0fx56cf4gmbn5811k1
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Joseph. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Hunt served with the Akron Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Akron community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Hunt.

— 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 12, 1918

Tour of Duty 3 mo

Age 33

Badge Number 73

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

34,117 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

Joseph was 33. 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. Joseph had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

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