Lebanon City Police Department, Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Saturday, February 14, 1903
Age: 38
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 14, 1903
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Executed in 1903
Patrolman Cyrus Shaeffer was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a murder suspect.
The man had just murdered a woman who had testified against him in a burglary trial.
Patrolman Shaeffer and several other officers were searching for the man in his home at 138 Liberty Alley. As Patrolman Shaeffer climbed the stairs into the attic the man shot him twice, fatally wounding him. The suspect surrendered a short time later to another officer. He plead guilty to murder and was sentenced to death. He was hanged four months later.
Patrolman Shaeffer was survived by his wife and two children.