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Lawrence E. Kost
Agency patch
Patrolman

Lawrence E. Kost

Seattle Police Department — Seattle, WA
Felonious
United States flag Washington flag
End of Watch December 12, 1915
Age 24
Tour of Duty 5 mo
The Vigil Panel 71 · Column 2 · Line 11 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 59

Incident

Patrolman Lawrence Kost was shot and killed when he attempted to arrest four men who had just robbed a drug store. After being informed of a robbery and obtaining a description of the suspects, Patrolman Kost began searching for them. A short time later, Patrolman Kost located the four suspects near the intersection of Boren Avenue and Terrace Street. When he attempted to arrest them, one of the suspects shot and killed him. Three weeks earlier the four, with another suspect, shot and killed Corporal Frederick Holmes of the San Francisco Police Department, after they wrecked their stolen car during a high-speed chase. Patrolman Holmes was attempting to stop them for an armed robbery they committed minutes earlier. He shot and killed one suspect. In March of 1916 one suspect was shot and wounded when he attempted to rob a Los Angeles cafe. He was arrested at a Los Angeles hospital where he went for treatment. From his Hospital bed, he told officials two suspects were in San Quentin Prison serving terms for armed robbery. The other suspect was in jail in San Francisco. He said he and the others were involved in the murders of Patrolman Kost and Corporal Holmes. After Patrolman Kost was killed they went back to San Francisco where they killed a man after they broke into his home. During a six-month period, they committed 11 armed robberies in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Sacramento, and stole several cars. The suspect said only one of his companions was the killer of all three. In 1917 he was convicted of robbery and sentenced to 25 years in San Quentin Prison. In 1917 the other three were convicted of murder and sentenced to life in San Quentin Prison. One, 22, was paroled on March 29, 1939. Patrolman Kost had been with the Seattle Police Department for five months.

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Tributes

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

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

Agency

Department Seattle Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Seattle, King County, WA
Platform Identity seatpd.king.wa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 12, 1915
Tour of Duty 5 mo
Age 24
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Lawrence 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.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1915, 152 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 26th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Lawrence was 24. 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. Lawrence had served 0.4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. 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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Seattle Police Department has 60 officers remembered here, Lawrence among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Lawrence E. Kost

Seattle Police Department · End of Watch December 12, 1915

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 42-E

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