On September 28th, 1918, Dayton Police Patrolman Lawrence R. Graham contracted the early 20th century’s deadliest global virus—the Spanish Influenza—in the line of duty.

In addition to their regular duties, during the global pandemic, Dayton Police officers were also assigned to operating ambulances, removing corpses, closing saloons that violated health orders, and preventing crowd gatherings. As a result many became ill, and six of them died. It was estimated that from early 1918 through early 1920, the Spanish Flu killed approximately 675,000 Americans.

Lawrence died of complications from the Spanish Influenza on October 7th, 1918.

Patrolman Graham was 24 years old at the time of his death, and had served with the Dayton Police Department for 18 months. He was survived by his wife, father, three brothers, and two sisters.