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Sergeant Harry W. Oebels | St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Missouri St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Missouri

Sergeant

Harry W. Oebels

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Missouri

End of Watch: Friday, July 8, 1966

Bio & Incident Details

Age: 48

Tour: 18 years

Badge # Not available

Cause: Gunfire

Incident Date: 7/8/1966

Weapon: Handgun; .45 caliber

Suspect: Sentenced to life

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Sergeant Oebels was shot and killed when he intervened in a robbery at a pharmacy on Bayless Street in St. Louis County. He had gone to the pharmacy to pick up his wife from work when two men entered and announced a holdup. When the two men ordered Sergeant Oebels to come closer, he drew his revolver and exchanged shots with the suspects. He was fatally wounded in the exchange of shots. One of his shots struck one of the suspects in the buttocks.

Two years later, the suspect was taken into custody on an unrelated charge. He underwent surgery to have the slug removed because of pain. The slug was held as evidence and linked the man to Sergeant Oebel's murder. The suspect was sentenced to death, but had the sentence commuted to life in prison.

Sergeant Oebels had been with the agency for 18 years and was survived by his wife.

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I was 16 years old, watching Johnny Carson when a news flash came on. They showed “Uncle Harry’s” photo (Harry's wife Esther, was my father’s cousin) photo and said he had been killed during a robbery. My parents weren't home, so I called my godfather, Vernon Speckert, Esther's brother, who was also a St. Louis Police Department Sergeant and he confirmed it. I ran to the door when my parents came home to tell them. I remember the shock and sadness in the weeks that followed. I don’t think Esther ever got over it. I have always been proud to say that I had two family members on the police force. They were both heroes to me.

Carol Ann
family member
February 8, 2011

 

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