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Samuel F. Irish
Agency patch
Officer

Samuel F. Irish

Indianapolis Police Department — Indianapolis, IN
Accident
United States flag Indiana flag
End of Watch June 7, 1909
Age 60
The Vigil Panel 23 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 58

Incident

Officer Samuel Irish died as the result of heat stroke, which he suffered four years earlier while walking his beat.

Officers were were required to wear a wool tunic as part of their summer uniform. He was walking his beat near the Atlas Engine Works, near the intersection of modern-day Dr. Andrew J. Brown Avenue and E 19th Street, on one of the hottest days of the year when he was overcome by heat. He was taken home but was never able to return to full duty.

His health continued to deteriorate until he passed away on June 7th, 1909.

Officer Irish was survived by his wife and four children.

Survivors

Officer Irish was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

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Tributes

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

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

Agency

Department Indianapolis Police Department
Type Other
Location Indianapolis, Marion County, IN
Platform Identity ipd.marion.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 7, 1909
Age 60
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Cause Detail Heatstroke

The Sacrifice · Accident

Samuel 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.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1909, 24 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 119th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Samuel was 60. 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.

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

When

June holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. 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

Indianapolis Police Department has 59 officers remembered here, Samuel among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Samuel F. Irish

Indianapolis Police Department · End of Watch June 7, 1909

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 33-W

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