Lieutenant Philip George Schlatterer
Columbia Police Department
South Carolina

End of Watch: Thursday, July 25, 1974
Cause: Gunfire

Biographical Info
Age: 54
Tour of Duty: 22 years
Badge Number: Not available

Lieutenant Schlatterer was shot and killed while attempting to arrest two rape suspects at 0100 hours. As he approached the men one of them pulled out a sawed-off shotgun concealed in his pants and shot Lieutenant Schlatterer in the chest, killing him instantly. Unbeknownst to Lieutenant Schlatterer, the two suspects had also murdered three people in the preceding 24-hour period.

The suspects fled with Lieutenant Schlatterer's service weapon. The shooter was shot and killed later in the morning by other officers and the second suspect was apprehended with Lieutenant Schlatterer's service weapon.

Lieutenant Schlatterer had served with the agency for 22 years.

On July 25, 2005, the section of street on which Lieutenant Schlatterer was killed was renamed in his honor.

 
Photograph: Lieutenant Philip George Schlatterer

Patch image: Columbia Police Department, South Carolina

Visit Lieutenant Schlatterer's memorial at www.ODMP.org