On March 1st, 1919, Dayton Police Patrolman Clement L. Francis 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.

Clement died of complications from the Spanish Influenza on March 8th, 1919.

Patrolman Francis was 30 years old at the time of his death, and had served with the Dayton Police Department for nearly three years. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.

Clement’s other daughter, who was just five years old, also died from the Spanish Flu on the same day he was buried. A few days later she was laid to rest right next to her father.