Arcadia Police Department, California
End of Watch: Tuesday, July 19, 1927
Age: 27
Tour of Duty: 1 year
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 19, 1927
Weapon Used: Handgun; .45 caliber
Suspect Info: Paroled in 1944
Police Officer Albert Matthies was shot and killed while checking the occupants of a car that was parked on a side street. As he approached to speak to the driver one of the passengers opened fire, killing him.
Later investigation determined that the three suspects had stolen the vehicle and were preparing to rob a business when Officer Matthies approached them. The suspects were apprehended in Los Angeles two weeks later.
All three suspects, ages 18, 18, and 19, were convicted of murder and sentenced to life. The shooter, 18, went to Folsom Prison. He was transferred to San Quentin on December 14, 1943. He was paroled on May 1, 1944. The other two, who turned state's evidence, went to San Quentin. They were paroled on September 24, 1940.
Officer Matthies was a U.S. Army veteran of WWI and had served with the Arcadia Police Department for one year. He was survived by his wife and two daughters.