More than a century after his line-of-duty death in rural Colorado, Post Office Inspector Almon Frederick’s name has been added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC.
On April 14, 1910, after performing official duties at the Bland, CO, Post Office, Frederick headed back to his office in Madison, CO. The 20-year veteran was thrown from his seat when a bolt broke on his horse-drawn carriage. His team of horses galloped away as the inspector lay in the road.
Frederick, who was 65, sustained broken ribs and other internal injuries. He died four days later.
His story remained largely untold until two postal inspectors — Inspector Daniel Wessel, in Mobile, AL, and Inspector Travis Smoot, in Salt Lake City — unearthed it.
From reading old copies of the Congressional Record and by doing next-of-kin research, they learned that Frederick was responsible for establishing rural free delivery in Arizona and Colorado.
Back then, to expand mail service, inspectors needed to check roads, Post Offices and other details such as whether the houses were numbered.
“One obituary talked about a clerk who stole $15,000,” Wessel said. “Frederick hunted him down to Wyoming and found the money hidden in a chicken coop.”
Frederick also tracked a train robber to Mexico, where he arrested him.
“It’s very rewarding to uncover these stories,” Smoot said. “There is some amazing early history that is all but forgotten. It just needs someone to find it.
“Daniel and I just want to do right by these inspectors and their families,” Smoot said. “We don’t think any person who loses his life to the Service should be forgotten.”
Each May during National Police Week in Washington, DC, names of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty are added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
There are more than 24,000 names, dating back to the first known line-of-duty death in 1786. With the addition of Frederick, there are now 16 postal inspectors and postal police officers memorialized there.
A ceremony at USPS headquarters in Washington, DC, and a wreath-laying ceremony at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial honoring Frederick took place on May 11.
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund held a candlelight vigil on May 13, where Frederick’s name was read aloud.
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