The Washington, DC Police Memorial and Museum was featured in a news story on the front page of the Metro section of the Washington Post today.
The story features the recent recognition of Officer Robert Fleet as the second DC MPD officer to die in the line of duty back in 1874. Fleet is now recognized as the first African American police officer to die in the line of duty in Washington, DC.
Officer Robert Fleet was 32 years of age and assigned to the 2nd Precinct. He was working the midnight tour and, like most officers in those days, he was assigned to foot patrol. He would have been wearing one of the old, very heavy, backbreaking, wool overcoats. At approximately 1:17 AM, he observed a house located on the corner of 15th & Q Streets NW on fire. He immediately turned and ran full tilt the three blocks to Fire Box 79, pulling the alarm at 1:20 AM. He succeeded in turning in the alarm, however, as soon as he pulled the alarm, witnesses observed him fall to the ground. The witnesses ran to help him, but it was too late. Officer Robert Fleet was gone. He suffered what was later confirmed to be a heart attack.
The Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Memorial and Museum works to honor our fallen heroes and preserve MPD history. Help us repair the crumbling DC Police Memorial and build a new wall to honor these heroes and their sacrifices.