Metropolitan Police Department, District of Columbia
End of Watch Wednesday, May 17, 1899
Add to My HeroesFrederick M. "Fritz" Passau
Sergeant Fritz Passau was shot and killed while searching for a double murder suspect in a house on Fowler's Hill. The suspect was hiding in the attic and as Sergeant Passau passed by he was shot in the back twice. The suspect surrendered after hiding in the house for several more hours.
The suspect were convicted of Sergeant Passau's murder and sentenced to death. He was executed by hanging on August 18, 1899, in Rockville, Maryland, for the two previous murders.
Sergeant Passau had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for 11 years and was assigned to the 7th Precinct. He was born in Germany and was a Freemason who had served in the United States Army. He was survived by his wife and two children and is burited in section 13 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
Bio
- Age 42
- Tour 11 years
- Badge 235
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber
- Offender Executed in 1899
Most Recent Reflection
View all 9 ReflectionsSgt. Passau,
On today, the 125th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just for your Community but for our Country as well when you served with the U.S. Army as a member of the 6th Cavalry Regiment-“The Fighting Sixth” in the American Southwest.
BPA Mike Casey
United States Border Patrol(Retired)
May 17, 2024
Recent LODD Deaths
Detective Timothy Jones
Park Forest Police Department, IL
EOW: December 3, 2025
Specialist Sarah Beckstrom
United States Department of Defense - Army National Guard - West Virginia Army National Guard, WV
EOW: November 27, 2025
Reserve Deputy Sheriff John C. Stahl, III
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, IN
EOW: June 8, 2025
Sergeant Terri Jean Sweeting-Mashkow
Indian River County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: November 21, 2025
Police Officer Alec Sanders
Alhambra Police Department, CA
EOW: November 20, 2025
Corrections Officer Jeremy Lewis Hall
Virginia Department of Corrections, VA
EOW: November 17, 2025
Police Officer Marc Brock
Vivian Police Department, LA
EOW: November 14, 2025
Corporal Blake Adair Reynolds
Delaware County Sheriff's Office, IN
EOW: November 12, 2025
Police Officer Roger Smith
WakeMed Campus Police & Public Safety Department, NC
EOW: November 8, 2025


