Memorial to Lester M. Kidwell

End of Watch: July 11, 1918
Rank: Officer, Badge No. N/A
Age: 33   Years of Service: 7 months
Location of Death: Montana and Oates Streets, NE
Duty Assignment: Third Precinct

Circumstance:
On July 10, 1918, Officer Kidwell checked off at midnight from the Third Precinct. Approximately two hours later Officer Kidwell was asking for help from a call box at Montana and Oates Streets, NE.

It was learned that while off duty, Officer Kidwell fell through a skylight and cut his neck, while trying to apprehend a chicken thief. Officer Kidwell was unconscious when found and died from loss of blood.

Biography
Officer Kidwell had been a Metropolitan Police Officer for seven months and assigned to the Third Precinct.

Articles from the Washington Post – transcribed by Dave Richardson, MPD/Ret.

THE DEATH OF OFFICER LESTER M. KIDWELL
WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DATED JULY 11, 1918, PAGE 2.
GASH ON NECK KILLS POLICEMAN
Lester M. Kidwell Fell Through a Skylight to Death.

Policeman Lester M. Kidwell, of the Third precinct, well known as the automobile driver for the District commissioners, died at Casualty Hospital early this morning from loss of blood from cuts about his neck, suffered, he said, in a fall through a skylight.

Kidwell was on duty at the precinct station until midnight.

Kidwell was found at Montana Avenue and Oates Street northeast at the patrol box from which he called an ambulance. He then told of falling through the skylight and lost consciousness before he could say anything more. He was taken to the hospital where he died.

OFFICER KIDWELL FELL THROUGH A SKYLIGHT WHILE CHASING A CHICKEN THIEF.
WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DATED JULY 11, 1918, PAGE 2.
GASH ON NECK KILLS POLICEMAN

Lester M. Kidwell Fell Through a Skylight to Death.
Policeman Lester M. Kidwell, of the Third precinct, well known as the automobile driver for the District commissioners, died at Casualty Hospital early this morning from loss of blood from cuts about his neck, suffered, he said, in a fall through a skylight.

Kidwell was on duty at the precinct station until midnight.

Kidwell was found at Montana Avenue and Oates Street northeast at the patrol box from which he called an ambulance. He then told of falling through the skylight and lost consciousness before he could say anything more. He was taken to the hospital where he died.

TAKEN FROM “THE OFFICER DOWN MEMORIAL PAGE”
Officer Kidwell died when he fell through a skylight while attempting to arrest a chicken thief. He had just reported off duty at approximately midnight. Approximately two hours later he called for help from a call box near Montana and Oates Streets. He was found unconscious and he died from a loss of blood.

Officer Kidwell had been with the agency for seven months.