Age: 36
Served: 5¼ years
May 22, 1901 to September 8, 1906
OFFICER
Michael was born December 19, 1865 to Irish immigrants, Michael and Anna Mulvihill. His father apparently passed away between 1880 and 1900 and Michael and two (of five, originally) surviving siblings, Mary (29) and Anna (25), lived with their mother at 959 Monastery Street in Mt. Adams and he worked as a motorman.
On April 23, 1901, he was nominated for the position of Patrol Wagon Driver on the Cincinnati Police Department. After an examination by the Board of Medical Examiners, his nomination was approved on May 1st. He took his oath of office on May 23, 1901 and, by 1906, was assigned to drive Patrol 3 (73 E. McMicken Avenue).
INCIDENT
On the afternoon of September 8, 1906, Patrolman Mulvihill, of 53 Corry Street, was driving Patrol 3 on a “hurry call” to 1324 Clay Street for a man, George Hammel, injured in a fall from a ladder. At 1417 Walnut, a streetcar drove into the path of the patrol wagon. Patrol Wagon Driver Mulvihill jerked the heads of his horses to the side, but the wheels of the wagon struck a coal wagon and vaulted him off the wagon headfirst to the pavement.
Fellow officers, Patrolmen Lottes and Hennekes (aka Hanakas) jumped forward and caught the reins of the galloping horses. They then went to Mulvihill’s aid and found him unconscious and bleeding. They put him into the wagon and took him to the City Hospital where he was met by Dr. Osmond. Dr. Osmond informed reporters that his injuries included a fractured skull and that it would doubtful that he would regain consciousness.
DEATH
Patrol Wagon Driver Mulvihill died a short time later that day from a brain injury and broken neck.
He was survived by his sister, Mrs. Joseph (Anne) Kenneary, and laid out at her home at 1612 Dexter. His remains were escorted from there at 8:30 a.m. on September 11, 1906, to a Requiem Mass at the Church of the Assumption at 9:00 a.m. From there, he was buried at St. Joseph (New) Cemetery in Section 13, Lot 37S, Grave 8.
EPILOGUE
The original victim, Hammel, found other conveyance to the hospital and was treated and released with minor injuries.
If you have information, artifacts, or photos involving this officer or the incident, please contact the Museum Director at Memorial@Police-Museum.org
© This narrative was revised April 29, 2020 by Cincinnati Police Lieutenant Stephen R. Kramer (Retired) with research assistance from Joyce Meyer, Price Hill Historical Society, and Kelly Huston, great granddaughter of Patrolman Henry Deering. All rights are reserved to them and to the Greater Cincinnati Police Historical Society.