Kevin Joseph Welsh
Agency patch
Officer

Kevin Joseph Welsh

Metropolitan Police Department — Washington, DC
Accident
End of Watch August 4, 1986
Age 34
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Badge 3837
The Vigil Panel 131 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Kevin Welsh drowned after jumping into the Anacostia River in an attempt to rescue a suicidal woman who had jumped off of the 11th Street Bridge. While in the water Officer Welsh indicated he needed help but went under and drowned before he could be rescued. His body was recovered four hours later. Officer Welsh was assigned to the Special Operations Division and had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for seven years. He was survived by his expectant wife and two children. In 2022, the 11th Street bridge was renamed the 11th Street Kevin J. Welsh Memorial Bridge.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtnexvqdj3xjja92s59n0
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 Kevin. 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.
Officer Welsh gave the Metropolitan Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Welsh.

— 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 August 4, 1986
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 34
Badge Number 3837
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Kevin 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
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1986, 82 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 23rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Kevin was 34. 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. Kevin had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

August holds 9.5% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Mondays: 13.4%.

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, Kevin among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Kevin Joseph Welsh

Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch August 4, 1986

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 16-E

↑