Patrolman James A. Langan

James A. Langan

Patrolman James Langan died as a result of contracting the Spanish Influenza while on duty during an outbreak on the police force.

During the week, more than a dozen officers on the police force became ill while on their beats and inside the police station. Patrolman Langan became ill on duty while on his beat along Carey Avenue and went to his home at 32 Farley Lane to rest. His condition worsened over the next couple of days, and he died as a result of complications of Spanish Influenza.

Patrolman Langan served with the Wilkes-Barre Police Department for two years. He was survived by his wife and seven children.

Effects of the 1918-1920 Influenza Pandemic on Law Enforcement

Also known as "Spanish Flu" or "LaGrippe," the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 to early 1920, infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide—about one-third of the planet’s population—and killed approximately 675,000 Americans. The effect of the influenza epidemic in the United States was so dire that the average life span in the U.S. fell by twelve years. The four waves of the flu began in March 1918 and ended in April 1920. Many officers contracted this virus due to the requirements of their job.

The names of every officer who died in the line of duty from the Influenza Pandemic will likely never be known. Still, ODMP researchers continue to uncover new cases as part of our mission never to forget the fallen.

Please click here to view ODMP's Influenza memorial, listing all known fallen officers from the pandemic.