On Saturday, December 24, 1949, Officer John Clancy of the Seattle Police Department was on patrol riding his motorcycle near Galer Street and Aurora Avenue when he was involved in a collision with a drunk driver. He suffered a broken leg and a head injury.
He never regained consciousness and died at Harborview County Hospital on Wednesday, December 28, 1949 at 0130 hours.
The driver of the automobile, Walter H. Neumann, was charged with drunken and reckless driving. Two Harger Drunkometer tests indicated his alcohol concentration results of .321 and .309. In 1949, the state’s per se BAC was .150.
Officer Clancy ad been a member of the Seattle Police Department for three years, and is survived by his wife and son.
In addition to maintaining the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial, Behind the Badge Foundation
delivers critical support to surviving family members after a line of duty death - from grief
resources
to financial support.