Age: 42
Served: 3 years
1935 to September 27, 1938

On September 18, 1938, Patrolman Cunningham encountered a drunken and disorderly Lee Brandon and, rather than arrest him, he took him home.  He advised Brandon to stay home and not come back to town lest he be arrested.  Later that night, Patrolman Cunningham encountered Brandon sitting on the steps in front of Fire Company Number One.  As Patrolman Cunningham approached, he suddenly pulled a handgun and opened fire striking Patrolman Cunningham in the abdomen.  He was rushed to Christ Hospital in Cincinnati and nine days later, with Police Chief Louis Griffith and Mayor Arthur Ritzmann at his bedside, died on September 27, 1938. 

Patrolman Cunningham left a wife, Ruth.  As a veteran of World War I, he was buried with full military honors in Greendale Cemetery.

Brandon was charged and convicted of murder and sentenced to Life Imprisonment.

Much of the information contained in this narrative was provided by Chris McHenry of Lawrenceburg, Indiana. If you have further information, artifacts, or pictures of this officer, please contact the Museum Director at Director@GCPHS.com.