Memorial to Ross H. Kaylor

End of Watch: December 10, 1929
Rank: Officer, Badge No. N/A
Years of Service: N/A
Age: 62
Location of Death: District of Columbia

Circumstance:

Motorman Kaylor was chasing a suspected whiskey runner when he struck a street car at Stanton Park. Officer Kaylor suffered a compound fracture to his leg and died on the scene from a massive head trauma.

Biography:

N/A

Articles from the Washington Post – transcribed by Dave Richardson, MPD/Ret.
THE DEATH OF MOTORCYCLE OFFICER ROSS KAYLOR ON DECEMBER 10, 1929.
THIS OFFICER WAS INVOLVED IN THREE STREETCAR-RELATED ACCIDENTS IN ONE YEAR, THE LAST OF WHICH KILLED HIM.
THIS BRINGS THE TOTAL TO 15 MOTORCYCLE MPDC OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DATED OCTOBER 20, 1928, PAGE 4.
Policeman Senses Danger, Jumps As Car Hits Cycle
Motorman Fails To See Man Directing Traffic for Coolidge
Leaping from his motorcycle when it was struck by a street car in front of the White House yesterday, Policeman Ross H. Kaylor, of the Traffic Bureau, saved himself from serious injury.

The accident occurred during the homecoming of President Coolidge from Fredericksburg, Va., and was visible from the Coolidge automobile.

Kaylor, assigned to convoy the President’s automobile from the Union Station to the White House, led the way, halting traffic at intersections to permit the White House cars to pass. Arriving at the Pennsylvania avenue gate of the White House Kaylor stopped his machine on the car tracks and signaled driver to halt while the Coolidge car entered the driveway.

A street-car motorman, however, failed to see either the warning hand or the officer sitting astride his motorcycle. Kaylor sensed his danger as the car approached and jumped. Kaylor suffered only a wrenched ankle.

******************************************************************************
WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DATED MARCH 12, 1929, PAGE 20
Traffic Policeman Hurt Chasing Speeding Auto
Policeman R.H. Kaylor, of the Traffic Bureau, suffered a fractured wrist and other injuries yesterday afternoon when hurled from his speeding motorcycle at the intersection of New Jersey Avenue and Franklin street northwest. He was treated at Emergency Hospital.

Policeman Kaylor was pursuing an automobile when his machine skidded on a street car track and tossed him to the pavement. He was traveling at 50 miles an hour at the time of the accident, witnesses stated. The automobilist escaped.

******************************************************************************
WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DATED DECEMBER 13, 1929, PAGE 4
POLICE HERO’S FUNERAL
Military Honors to be Accorded R.H. Kaylor at Arlington
Full military honors will be accorded Policeman Ross H. Kaylor, killed Tuesday in an accident, at the funeral services in Arlington National Cemetery tomorrow afternoon at 1 o’clock. Front Line Post No. 1401, Veterans of Foreign Wars, will be in charge of the services, while a firing section in charge of a Marine gunnery sergeant, Kaylor’s rank in the Marines, will fire a salute over the grave.

The Rev. Francis J. Hurney, chaplain of the post, will officiate at the grave, and the ritual will be conducted by Joseph B. Gardella, post commander; Harry J. Hooley, senior vice commander; Floyd G. Caskey, junior vice commander, and Mrs. Clay Keene Miller, auxiliary president.

Pallbearers will be motorcycle policemen who served on the Metropolitan force with Kaylor. They are O.R. Sanders, E. Williams, F.L. Rawlinson, W.C. Lewis, J.D. Martin and C.C. Johnson.

******************************************************************************
PARTIAL WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DATED FEBRUARY 26, 1930, PAGE 3
Parking Is Prohibited In Section of C Street
Parking on the Northside of C Street from Fourth to Sixth street northeast was prohibited under an amendment to traffic regulations approved yesterday by the District Commissioners on recommendation of Traffic Director William H. Harland.

Policeman Ross Kaylor was killed on this street when his motorcycle crashed into a street car last December, and the coroner’s jury recommended that parking be prohibited. The street is restricted to one-way westbound traffic, but the street cars run east.