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Incident
Officer Francis Ryan succumbed to injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash on October 17, 1922, on the Philadelphia Pike NB at Holly Oak Road in Wilmington. At 10:30 p.m., Officer Ryan was pursuing a speeder who refused to stop. He was able to pull up next to the vehicle and maneuver the car to the side of the road as it slowed down when another car traveling southbound struck him. Officer Ryan was thrown from his motorcycle, breaking his legs. The driver who hit Officer Ryan transported him to a nearby doctor before he was transferred to the Delaware Hospital. Officer Ryan succumbed to his injuries 16 days later. The speeding driver fled the scene and was never found. The driver who struck Officer Ryan was exonerated. Officer Ryan had served with the Delaware State Police for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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- 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 Ryan gave the Delaware State Police 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Delaware. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Ryan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Delaware State Police has lost 21 officers; 11 of them lost to accidents.
Francis is one of 19 officers lost to accidents in DE, 37.3% of the 51 remembered there.
Francis is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Francis is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1922, 1 officer at Delaware State Police was lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 10 years on record. The heaviest was 1990, with 2.
In 1922, 1 officer in DE was lost to accidents, the 5th heaviest of 15 years on record. The heaviest was 1926, with 2.
In 1922, 82 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 23rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1922, 101 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 18th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Francis was 31. Of the 11 lost to accidents at Delaware State Police whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 36.5; the middle age was 31. Francis had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Francis was 31. Of the 19 lost to accidents in DE whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 36.5; the middle age was 31. Francis had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Francis 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. Francis had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Francis was 31. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Francis had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
November holds 18.2% of these deaths at Delaware State Police, more than any other month. Thursdays: 9.1%.
November holds 15.8% of these deaths in DE, more than any other month. Thursdays: 15.8%.
November holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Thursdays: 14%.
November holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 52.4% of all 21 deaths at Delaware State Police, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 37.3% of all 51 deaths in DE, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Delaware State Police has 21 officers remembered here, Francis among them.
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Francis P. Ryan
Nov 2, 1922
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Paul H. Sherman
Oct 16, 1945
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Leroy L. LeKites
Jan 13, 1950
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Raymond B. Wilhelm
May 30, 1951
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William F. Mayer
Aug 8, 1955
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Harold Bruce Rupert
Apr 19, 1962
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Robert A. Paris
Oct 17, 1963
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William C. Keller
Jan 22, 1971
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Ronald L. Carey
Jan 5, 1972
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David C. Yarrington
Jan 6, 1972
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George W. Emory
Jun 3, 1972
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David Bruce Pulling
Nov 18, 1987
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Kevin J. Mallon
Mar 20, 1990
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Gerard T. Dowd
Sep 11, 1990
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Robert H. Bell
Sep 7, 1993
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Sandra Marie Wagner
Apr 5, 1996
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Frances Marie Collender
Feb 6, 2001
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Christopher Michael Shea
Jul 18, 2004
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Stephen Jamelle Ballard
Apr 26, 2017
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Dennis Francis Kelly
Dec 21, 2024
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Matthew Tyler Snook
Dec 23, 2025
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 14-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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