Martin Kunkel
Agency patch
Patrolman

Martin Kunkel

Cincinnati Police Department — Cincinnati, OH
Felonious
End of Watch January 24, 1878
Age 32
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 5 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Martin Kunkel was shot and killed at 82 Dayton Street by one of four burglars who had been caught breaking into a nearby home. The suspects had fled after being discovered and fired at responding officers. They continued to flee and encountered Patrolman Kunkel and another patrolman in the area of Dayton Street and Linn Street. The subjects and officers exchanged shots. Patrolman Kunkel's revolver misfired and was unable to be used, but he continued chasing the subjects to 82 Dayton Street, at which point one of the men shot him in the abdomen. Several men were arrested in connection with Patrolman Kunkel's murder but were never tried due to insufficient evidence. Patrolman Kunkel had served with the Cincinnati Police Division for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and sister.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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

148 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Kunkel gave the Cincinnati Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cincinnati community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH
Platform Identity cincpd.hamilton.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 24, 1878
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 32
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

34,117 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 1878, 51 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 139th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Martin was 32. 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. Martin had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Cincinnati Police Department has 106 officers remembered here, Martin among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Martin Kunkel

Cincinnati Police Department · End of Watch January 24, 1878

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 44-W

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