The First Detective to Die a Heroic Death, József Kalmár

Abstract

Hungarian criminalistics and law enforcement history have paid little attention to preserving the memory of police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. This study recalls the legacy of detective József Kalmár, who died on 4 February, 1915, while on duty, becoming the first detective in Hungarian criminalistics to fall heroically. The author’s aim is to pay tribute to this nearly forgotten police hero and to present his short but exemplary life journey. The article draws upon several contemporary press reports, family recollections, and historical documents to reconstruct the key events in József Kalmár’s life. The research also involved a "local history investigation", which relied on the collective memory of the residents of the village of Babót. The study uncovers Kalmár’s family background, career as a police officer, and the circumstances of his tragic death. It also explores how his memory has been preserved within his family and the local community. A detailed account is provided of the day of the murder, the funeral, and the memorial erected in 1930. As a result of the research, József Kalmár’s life story has been successfully reconstructed. The story of József Kalmár’s brief life highlights the dangers of police service. This study contributes to the recognition of forgotten heroes in the history of criminalistics and may encourage further research of a similar nature within the field of law enforcement studies.