Watchman

John Brasher

Cincinnati Police Department — Cincinnati, OH
Felonious
End of Watch May 6, 1849
Age 36
The Vigil Panel 1 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Watchman John Brasher was shot and killed on May 6th, 1849, while pursuing a suspect who had broken into the Good Samaritan Drug Store at Central Avenue and Court Street the previous day. A warrant had been issued for the suspect and he was tracked to Madam Davis' house at 15th and Elm Streets. Police surrounded the house and demanded the suspect surrender. The man ran out of the rear door and shot Watchman Brasher during a foot chase.

Survivors

Watchman Brasher was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

177 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Watchman Brasher served with the Cincinnati Police Department.
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 May 6, 1849
Age 36
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John 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 1849, 2 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 190th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 36. 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

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

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, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Watchman John Brasher

Cincinnati Police Department · End of Watch May 6, 1849

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 5-E

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