Claude O. Rupe
Agency patch
Officer

Claude O. Rupe

Metropolitan Police Department — Washington, DC
Accident
End of Watch October 14, 1928
Age 27
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Badge 783
The Vigil Panel 56 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Claude Rupe was killed in a motorcycle accident while patrolling Maryland Avenue, SW. His motorcycle slid on wet pavement, throwing him to the ground. He was transported to Emergency Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries the following day. Officer Rupe had been with the Metropolitan Police Department for just under five years and was assigned to the Sixth Precinct. He was survived by his wife and infant son. He was buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and infant son.

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 Rupe gave the Metropolitan Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Rupe.

— 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 October 14, 1928
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 27
Badge Number 783
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Claude is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 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 1928, 103 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 5th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Claude was 27. 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. Claude had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

October holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Sundays: 14%.

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, Claude among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Claude O. Rupe

Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch October 14, 1928

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 59-E

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