The Cleveland Police Museum is honored to tell the stories of our Fallen Officers on the anniversary of their End of Watch.
On April 19, 1923, after completing a tour of duty in the downtown area, Officer Kilbane was riding his horse Sporty Rex at the rear of a column of fifteen Mounted Policemen. As was their custom each day at the end of their duties, they would assemble at East 9th Street and Prospect and ride in a double column to their barn on Woodland Avenue at East 22nd Street. Nearing the barn Sporty Rex bolted toward the head of the column. He stepped in a hole in the pavement throwing Officer Kilbane to the street. Patrolman Joseph Kennedy’s mount Newton stumbled over Sporty Rex throwing his rider. Officer Kilbane sustained a severe head injury and Officer Kennedy suffered a fractured ankle.
Patrolman Kilbane was transported to Charity Hospital where he died as a result of his injuries. The accident occurred in front of 1100 Woodland Avenue, where one month earlier another mounted Officer was injured after his horse stumbled into a hole in the street.
A rut in the roadway was blamed for causing Kilbane’s death. This triggered a demand to repair the mass of ruts, holes and breaks in the roadway by repaving Woodland Avenue.
Officer Kilbane was one of the best-known Mounted Officers in the downtown district. He was 46 years old was survived by his wife Christina, son Samuel and daughter Mary