Local News

The Ashland Police Department recently learned of a previously unknown line of duty death that occurred in March 1919 and the deceased officer will be honored later this year in Washington, DC, Salem and Jackson County.

Ashland Police Officer George Martin Lowe was struck and killed by a train while on foot patrol in the railroad district. He was 54 years old.

APD Chief Tighe O'Meara said the incident was brought to his agency's attention by the Officer Collin Rose Foundation, a Michigan-based nonprofit that works to honor officers who have fallen in the line of duty.

The department requested that Officer Lowe's name be added to the National Law Enforcement Memorial Wall in Washington, DC -- a request that was approved. His name will be added during a ceremony in May of this year.

APD has also requested that Lowe's name be added to the state's Wall of Honor at the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training in Salem along with the Jackson County Wall of Honor at Singler Memorial Plaza in Medford between the Courthouse and Jail.

Chief O'Meara said the department is in the process of updating its badge as well. He said the bottom of the APD badge contains a panel with stars, one for each officer who has died in the line of duty. A fourth star will be added for Officer Lowe, joining three other stars honoring Samuel Prescott and Victor Knott who both died in 1931, and Malcus Williams who died in 2018.