Officer Mayer was shot and killed with investigating a burglary at the intersection of University Avenue and Farrington Avenue at 0220 hours. He surprised the three burglars who were attempting to break into a butcher shop. Officer Mayer was shot in the groin with a . 44 caliber handgun. He was able to return fire but did not strike the suspects. All three suspects were eventually arrested in Kansas but had to be released because of a lack of evidence and a key witness refusing to testify. One of the suspects shot and killed Officer Lafayette Smith of the Omaha, Nebraska Police Department on January 14, 1909. He was later shot and killed by a Omaha police detective. Officer Mayer had been with the agency for four years and was assigned to the Bicycle Squad. He was survived by his wife and five children.
OFFICER CHARLES MAYER
St. Paul PD
Died February 1, 1902
On Sunday, February 1st at 2:20 a.m., Officer Charles Mayer surprised three burglars behind Louis Jessrang's saloon at the intersection of University and Farrington Avenues breaking in the the Spangenberg and Schlicting butcher shop at 323 University Avenue. Although Officer Mayer was able to fire three times, it appeared that the suspects had shot him at close range. His gun was out of its pouch and three shells were found near him. Officer Mayer died at 6:00 a.m. at St. Josephs Hospital from a .44 caliber gunshot wound to the groin.
The men who killed Mayer are believed to be the same suspects who had fired on Minneapolis Officer Frank Ford on November 1st, 1901. Ford had caught the men boring holes in the rear door of S.A. Berni's Saloon at 101 First Avenue South. One of the men fired at him, piercing his cap and grazing his skull. That night, three suspects were located sleeping in a freight shed near Detroit. They were arrested and held until they could be taken back to St. Paul.
Officer Mayer, Badge 28, had started with the department in December, 1888, working in the Rondo district before being promoted to the bicycle squad in 1898. He was 41 years old at the time of his death and survived by his wife and five children. Officer Mayer's death was just one in a series of tragedies to strike his family. His oldest son had died three weeks prior to this incident and another son, Henry, 11-years-old, was seriously ill and died February 5. Officer Mayer's funeral was held in his home at 758 Sherburne Avenue on Tuesday, February 4. He was buried at Lakeside Cemetery.
Sourced from: The book "We Will Remember"
MN Law Enforcement Memorial Association
L.E.M.A. 2009
OFFICER CHARLES MAYER
St. Paul PD
Died February 1, 1902
On Sunday, February 1st at 2:20 a.m., Officer Charles Mayer surprised three burglars behind Louis Jessrang's saloon at the intersection of University and Farrington Avenues breaking in the the Spangenberg and Schlicting butcher shop at 323 University Avenue. Although Officer Mayer was able to fire three times, it appeared that the suspects had shot him at close range. His gun was out of its pouch and three shells were found near him. Officer Mayer died at 6:00 a.m. at St. Josephs Hospital from a .44 caliber gunshot wound to the groin.
The men who killed Mayer are believed to be the same suspects who had fired on Minneapolis Officer Frank Ford on November 1st, 1901. Ford had caught the men boring holes in the rear door of S.A. Berni's Saloon at 101 First Avenue South. One of the men fired at him, piercing his cap and grazing his skull. That night, three suspects were located sleeping in a freight shed near Detroit. They were arrested and held until they could be taken back to St. Paul.
Officer Mayer, Badge 28, had started with the department in December, 1888, working in the Rondo district before being promoted to the bicycle squad in 1898. He was 41 years old at the time of his death and survived by his wife and five children. Officer Mayer's death was just one in a series of tragedies to strike his family. His oldest son had died three weeks prior to this incident and another son, Henry, 11-years-old, was seriously ill and died February 5. Officer Mayer's funeral was held in his home at 758 Sherburne Avenue on Tuesday, February 4. He was buried at Lakeside Cemetery.
Sourced from: The book "We Will Remember"
MN Law Enforcement Memorial Association
L.E.M.A. 2009
Officer Mayer was shot and killed with investigating a burglary at the intersection of University Avenue and Farrington Avenue at 0220 hours. He surprised the three burglars who were attempting to break into a butcher shop. Officer Mayer was shot in the groin with a . 44 caliber handgun. He was able to return fire but did not strike the suspects. All three suspects were eventually arrested in Kansas but had to be released because of a lack of evidence and a key witness refusing to testify. One of the suspects shot and killed Officer Lafayette Smith of the Omaha, Nebraska Police Department on January 14, 1909. He was later shot and killed by a Omaha police detective. Officer Mayer had been with the agency for four years and was assigned to the Bicycle Squad. He was survived by his wife and five children.
OFFICER CHARLES MAYER
St. Paul PD
Died February 1, 1902
On Sunday, February 1st at 2:20 a.m., Officer Charles Mayer surprised three burglars behind Louis Jessrang's saloon at the intersection of University and Farrington Avenues breaking in the the Spangenberg and Schlicting butcher shop at 323 University Avenue. Although Officer Mayer was able to fire three times, it appeared that the suspects had shot him at close range. His gun was out of its pouch and three shells were found near him. Officer Mayer died at 6:00 a.m. at St. Josephs Hospital from a .44 caliber gunshot wound to the groin.
The men who killed Mayer are believed to be the same suspects who had fired on Minneapolis Officer Frank Ford on November 1st, 1901. Ford had caught the men boring holes in the rear door of S.A. Berni's Saloon at 101 First Avenue South. One of the men fired at him, piercing his cap and grazing his skull. That night, three suspects were located sleeping in a freight shed near Detroit. They were arrested and held until they could be taken back to St. Paul.
Officer Mayer, Badge 28, had started with the department in December, 1888, working in the Rondo district before being promoted to the bicycle squad in 1898. He was 41 years old at the time of his death and survived by his wife and five children. Officer Mayer's death was just one in a series of tragedies to strike his family. His oldest son had died three weeks prior to this incident and another son, Henry, 11-years-old, was seriously ill and died February 5. Officer Mayer's funeral was held in his home at 758 Sherburne Avenue on Tuesday, February 4. He was buried at Lakeside Cemetery.
Sourced from: The book "We Will Remember"
MN Law Enforcement Memorial Association
L.E.M.A. 2009
OFFICER CHARLES MAYER
St. Paul PD
Died February 1, 1902
On Sunday, February 1st at 2:20 a.m., Officer Charles Mayer surprised three burglars behind Louis Jessrang's saloon at the intersection of University and Farrington Avenues breaking in the the Spangenberg and Schlicting butcher shop at 323 University Avenue. Although Officer Mayer was able to fire three times, it appeared that the suspects had shot him at close range. His gun was out of its pouch and three shells were found near him. Officer Mayer died at 6:00 a.m. at St. Josephs Hospital from a .44 caliber gunshot wound to the groin.
The men who killed Mayer are believed to be the same suspects who had fired on Minneapolis Officer Frank Ford on November 1st, 1901. Ford had caught the men boring holes in the rear door of S.A. Berni's Saloon at 101 First Avenue South. One of the men fired at him, piercing his cap and grazing his skull. That night, three suspects were located sleeping in a freight shed near Detroit. They were arrested and held until they could be taken back to St. Paul.
Officer Mayer, Badge 28, had started with the department in December, 1888, working in the Rondo district before being promoted to the bicycle squad in 1898. He was 41 years old at the time of his death and survived by his wife and five children. Officer Mayer's death was just one in a series of tragedies to strike his family. His oldest son had died three weeks prior to this incident and another son, Henry, 11-years-old, was seriously ill and died February 5. Officer Mayer's funeral was held in his home at 758 Sherburne Avenue on Tuesday, February 4. He was buried at Lakeside Cemetery.
Sourced from: The book "We Will Remember"
MN Law Enforcement Memorial Association
L.E.M.A. 2009
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