On the evening of July 28th, 1948 at approximately 8:30 pm, the City of Noblesville and Noblesville Police Department tragically lost one of their own in a motorcycle accident on the north side of Forest Park.

 

Patrolman Francis W. Castor, 28, was on duty at the time of the accident, operating a department-issued motorcycle. It is believed that Patrolman Castor was possibly chasing a speeding vehicle just prior to colliding into the rear of another automobile. Patrolman Castor was thrown from the motorcycle and suffered severe injuries to his head and neck, passing away before arriving at the hospital. The speeding vehicle was never located.

 

Patrolman Castor was hired by the Noblesville Police Department on July 16th, 1948. He had only been with the department for twelve days prior to his death. Patrolman Castor was buried in the Prairie Baptist Cemetery and was survived by his wife, Mrs. Mildred (Lavely) Castor; his mother, Mrs. Effle Castor and six sisters. The couple had no children of their own.    

 

Prior to joining the Noblesville Police Department, Patrolman Castor served three years with the 13th Air Force and was deployed to Africa, India, Burma, and China.

 

The City of Noblesville and the Noblesville Police Department honor the memory of Patrolman Castor each year in the third week of May during National Peace Officer's Memorial Week. Patrolman Castor's name is inscribed on the National Memorial Wall located in Washington, DC on Panel 26E, Line 8.