Sheriff John McGraw

Law enforcement officers are never 'off duty.' They are dedicated public servants who are sworn to protect public safety at any time and place that the peace is threatened

Barbara Boxer

A portrait of John McGraw, a Washington sheriff who settled the anti-Chinese riots.
 
During February of 1886 in Kings County, Washington, there was a group of vigilantes who wanted to get rid of the Chinese Americans living in the country and send them back to China. John McGraw opposed each effort and used his powers as sheriff to protect minorities. When the vigilantes tried to use force, McGraw sent out over 400 deputies to hold them back. The vigilantes then tried to use a boat in order to send them back, but McGraw boarded the boat and endured gunfire as he told them the boat would not be allowed to leave. He didn’t sustain a serious injury, and it was this last stand that finally convinced the vigilantes to flee.

History of Seattle, Washington: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches

1890

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/John_McGraw_1890.jpg

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Seattle Then and Now

Seattle Then and Now

Medium: Photomechanical Print.

English

Figures

Anti-Chinese Riots, John McGraw, Law Enforcement, Sheriff, Washington

Washington