John Kossow
Agency patch
Police Officer

John Kossow

Milwaukee Police Department — Milwaukee, WI
Felonious
End of Watch September 30, 1899
Age 34
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Badge 333
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer John Kossow was beaten to death with his own baton after responding to a domestic disturbance call near South 25th Street and West Orchard Avenue. While on the scene a struggle ensued between Officer Kossow and the husband. The suspect was able to gain control of the baton and struck Officer Kossow over the head, knocking him to the ground. After he fell the suspect continued to strike Officer Kossow over the head, killing him. The man fled but was later apprehended without incident. The 41-year-old suspect was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He was released on January 5, 1912, and died two months later from tuberculosis.

In Our Keeping

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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

127 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Kossow gave the Milwaukee Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Milwaukee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI
Platform Identity mpd.milwaukee.wi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 30, 1899
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Age 34
Badge Number 333
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's nightstick

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 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 1899, 90 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 66th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 34. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. John had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

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 officer's nightstick, in 0.1% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Milwaukee Police Department has 69 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer John Kossow

Milwaukee Police Department · End of Watch September 30, 1899

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 55-W

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