St. Louis County Police Department, Missouri
End of Watch: Saturday, April 30, 1977
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: 16 years
Badge Number: 430
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Date of Incident: April 30, 1977
Weapon Used: Automobile; Alcohol involved
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 2 years
Police Officer James Reifschneider was struck and killed by a drunk driver while on I-270 one mile west of Lindbergh Boulevard.
He was standing by the driver's side door of a stalled vehicle talking with the driver when a 19-year-old youth struck him and dragged him 150 feet down the roadway. The suspect fled the scene but was found passed out in the back seat of his vehicle parked in front of his residence a short time later. It was later discovered he had crashed into a parked vehicle near his residence before he got home.
The man admitted he had been drinking a lot and did not remember the crash. He was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to six years in prison. Three months later a judge ruled his sentence was too harsh and reduced it to two years.
Officer Reifschneider had served with the St. Louis County Police Department for 16 years. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and daughter.