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Isaac B. Halbfinger
Agency patch
Home Defense Officer

Isaac B. Halbfinger

Metropolitan Police Department — Washington, DC
Felonious
United States flag District of Columbia flag
End of Watch July 22, 1919
Age 41
The Vigil Panel 37 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 130

Incident

Home Defense Officer Isaac Halbfinger was shot and killed as he and his partner attempted to question a man at the corner of 9th Street and M Street, NW, during the 1919 Race Riots. The suspect immediately produced a pistol and shot Officer Halbfinger in the chest, killing him.

His partner then struggled with the suspect and was also shot and seriously wounded. The suspect fled the scene through an alley as he was pursued by a witness. Both officers were armed only with riot sticks, not guns.

Detective Sergeant Harry Wilson was shot and killed the previous day and several other officers were shot and wounded during the riots.

Officer Halbfinger was survived by his wife and two daughters. He is buried in Adas Israel Cemetery, Washington, DC.

Survivors

Officer Halbfinger was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Home Defense Officer Halbfinger served with the Metropolitan Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Home Defense Officer Halbfinger.

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

Agency

Department Metropolitan Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity mpdc.dc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 22, 1919
Age 41
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1919, 212 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Isaac was 41. 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.

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

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Metropolitan Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Isaac among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Home Defense Officer Isaac B. Halbfinger

Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch July 22, 1919

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 55-W

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