In the late summer of 1911, a veteran police officer in Reading, Pennsylvania, lost his life in the line of duty. Patrolman John W. Kissinger, a 53-year-old male who had served with the Reading Police Department for three years, was fatally shot on Saturday, September 16, 1911. The incident unfolded in the 1300 block of Locust Street as he was assisting a fellow officer in the arrest of an intoxicated man.
The situation escalated when a struggle ensued with the suspect near the back door
of a residence. It was during this physical confrontation that Patrolman Kissinger was shot. The suspect, a 26-year-old man, was taken into custody at the home approximately an hour after the shooting.
Following the investigation into the death of Patrolman Kissinger, the suspect was charged and subsequently found guilty of first-degree murder. However, the legal proceedings did not end with this conviction. The man was granted a new trial, which ultimately resulted in his acquittal. At the time of his death, Patrolman Kissinger was survived by his wife, two sons, and three daughters.
