Metropolitan Police Department, District of Columbia
End of Watch: Saturday, August 8, 1931
Age: 38
Tour of Duty: 9 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Date of Incident: August 7, 1931
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Officer Arthur Gelhar succumbed to injuries sustained in an automobile accident on Connecticut Avenue, NW, while responding to a homicide.
He and his partner were responding in an emergency car and were following a motorcycle officer who had lights and sirens activated. A vehicle that yielded to the motorcycle pulled in front of the car at the entrance to the National Zoo, causing a collision. Officer Gelhar sustained major head injuries and died the next day.
Officer Gelhar had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for over nine years. He was survived by his wife and two children.