On October 19th, 1966, Dayton Police Sergeant Paul E. Mortimer contracted a deadly disease—Hepatitis—while in the line of duty.

He had been working the scene of a homicide investigation, where, during the process of collecting evidence, he and other officers had handled the victim’s bloody clothing. By the following day, it was determined that the victim had Hepatitis, so all of the officers involved were inoculated. While none of the others became infected, within a month, Sergeant Mortimer tested positive for the disease. From that point on his health steadily deteriorated.

Paul died of complications from the disease nearly four years later, on July 31st, 1970.

Sergeant Mortimer was 46 years old at the time of his death, and had served with the Dayton Police Department for 21 years. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, mother, two sisters, and four brothers.

Paul was a U.S. Army World War II veteran. He was a highly respected officer who was widely known for being extremely efficient and compassionate. He had worked in nearly every section of the department’s operations before being assigned to community relations. In a related tragedy, his brother—Dayton Police Sergeant William Mortimer—also died in the line of duty nearly four years later.