In addition to their military service, Medal of Honor Recipients have always found ways to serve their communities, by supporting other veterans, throwing their hats into politics, community service, or joining the workforce. Some went into law enforcement as police officers, commissioners, sheriffs, marshals, or federal law enforcement agents.

A few well-known names, including Theodore Roosevelt and Smedley Butler, took breaks from their otherwise busy schedules to enforce law and order. Roosevelt served as President of the New York City Board of Police Commissioners from 1895 to 1897 and is credited with promoting a more effective police force. In 1898, Roosevelt served during the Spanish-American War, for which he received the Medal of Honor. Likewise, Smedley Butler served as Director of Public Safety in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1924 to 1925, nearly a decade after being awarded his second Medal of Honor during the 1915 Haitian Campaign.

Two Medal of Honor Recipients that we know of were killed in the line of duty. Recipient John H. Hays, of the Civil War, was the town marshal in Troy, Idaho, in 1904 when he was shot and killed while trying to make an arrest. Harry Beasley, who received the Medal for action during the Mexican Campaign of 1914, died in a 1931 shootout with safe robbers who were making a get-away in Newark, Ohio. The robbers dropped the safe, but as of 2022, they have never been identified.

One Recipient, Claron Windus from the Civil War, had a long history of civilian law enforcement duties in Texas. He served as Deputy Sheriff of Kenney County and was a Deputy US Marshal and customs inspector for the state. In addition to his Medal of Honor, he is also known for how in 1877, he shot and killed fellow Medal of Honor Recipient Adam Paine in his capacity as an officer.

Other Medal of Honor Recipients with law enforcement service include:

Police Officers/Sheriffs:

• Charles D. Barger (received the Medal for World War I), officer in Kansas City, Missouri, for 12 years.
• Benjamin F. Child (Civil War), deputy sheriff of Providence, Rhode Island
• James M. Elson (Civil War), Sheriff of Benton County, Iowa, 1893
• Joseph A. Glowin (Dominican Campaign), officer in Detroit, Michigan, 1923-1941
• Ralyn Hill (World War I), deputy sheriff in Oregon, Illinois; and officer in Abilene, Kansas
• Henderson Howard (Civil War), sheriff in Indiana County, Indiana
• James E. Karnes (World War I), officer in Knoxville, Tennessee
• Edward E. Lyon (Spanish-American War), officer in Portland, Oregon, 1910s
• Jeremiah Murphy (Indian Campaigns), officer in Washington, District of Columbia
• George Nee (Spanish-American War), reserve officer in Boston, Massachusetts
• William Pelham (Civil War), officer in Brooklyn, New York for over 30 years
• John A. Poppe (Indian Campaigns), Chief of Detectives, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Thomas J. Prendergast (Spanish-American War), officer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Ferdinand F. Rohm (Civil War), officer in Pennsylvania State Police
• Daniel Sickles (Civil War), sheriff of New York County, New York
• Franklin E. Sigler (World War II), county detective, Passaic County, New Jersey
• Walter Thorn (Civil War), assistant sheriff, New York City, New York
• John Toffey (Civil War), sheriff of Hudson County, New Jersey
• Andrew J. Tomlin (Civil War), sheriff of Cape May County, New Jersey
• Frederick E. Toy (Indian Campaigns), Railroad Officer, Niagara, New York
• George Uhrl (Civil War), officer in New York City, New York, 1893-1904
• Francis A. Waller (Civil War), sheriff of Vernon County, Wisconsin, 1880-1882
• Lewis G. Watkins (Korean War), officer in Greenville, South Carolina
• Charles B. Woram (Civil War), officer in New York City, New York, 1873-1897

Chief of Police/Commissioners:

• Charles F. Cleveland (Civil War), officer and Chief of Police in Utica, New York, 1874-1908
• Patrick Delacey (Civil War), Chief of Police in Scranton, Pennsylvania
• Merritt A. Edson (World War II), Commissioner of Vermont State Police
• Jonathan Kirk (Civil War), Chief of Police in Logansport, Indiana, 1870s
• Michael C. Murphy (Civil War), Commissioner of New York City Police, 1901-1902, the first single commissioner of NYPD
• Francis J. Pierce (World War II), officer and Deputy Chief of Police, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1946-1982
• James C. Walker (Civil War), Chief of Police for Springfield, Ohio
• Franklin L. Wilcox (Civil War), officer and Chief of Police in Utica, New York

US Marshals:

• David E. Hayden (World War I)
• William W. Henry (Civil War), Vermont
• Francis J. Herron (Civil War), Louisiana
• Martin T. McMahon (Civil War), Southern District of NY
• James R. O’Beirne (Civil War), Washington, District of Columbia
• Milton T. Russell (Civil War), Des Moines, Iowa
• James E. Williams (Vietnam War), South Carolina

US Secret Service:

• Richard H. Taylor (Interim, 1871-1899)
• Ronald Shurer II (War on Terrorism, Afghanistan)

Texas Rangers:

• James B. Dozier (Indian Campaigns)
• Leopold Karpeles (Civil War)

About the Congressional Medal of Honor Society

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Medal of Honor and its Recipients, inspiring Americans, and supporting the Recipients as they connect with communities across the country.

Chartered by Congress in 1958, its membership consists exclusively of those individuals who have received the Medal of Honor. There are 65 living Recipients.

The Society carries out its mission through outreach, education and preservation programs, including the Medal of Honor Museum, Medal of Honor Outreach Programs, the Medal of Honor Character Development Program, and the Medal of Honor Citizen Honors Awards for Valor and Service. The Society’s programs and operations are funded by donations.

As part of Public Law 106-83, the Medal of the Honor Memorial Act, the Medal of Honor Museum, which is co-located with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s headquarters on board the U.S.S. Yorktown at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, was designated as one of three national Medal of Honor sites.

Learn more about the Medal of Honor and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s initiatives at cmohs.org.