On October 9th, 1918, Dayton Police Patrolman Vinton E. Harsh 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.

Vinton died of complications from the Spanish Influenza on October 13th, 1918.

Patrolman Harsh was 24 years old at the time of his death, and had served with the Dayton Police Department for two and a half years. He was survived by his wife, child, mother, father, three sisters, and three brothers.