Police Officer Fred A. Peitsch

Police Officer Fred A. Peitsch

St. Paul Police Department, Minnesota

End of Watch Tuesday, February 23, 1926

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Fred A. Peitsch

Officers Fred Peitsch and John Schultz were shot and killed while questioning a possible bootlegging suspect at 889 Laurel Avenue.

The man shot the officers several times. As Officer Schultz attempted to crawl back to his patrol car the man shot him two more times, including once in the head. The suspect then fled in their patrol car.

Three suspects were apprehended two days later in Menomonie, Wisconsin, and charged with both murders and several robberies. They were each sentenced to 240 years on the robbery charges but the murder charges were dismissed due to insufficient evidence.

In September 1927 a gangster arrested for murdering another criminal in St. Paul stated that the dead man had murdered two police officers and several others. An investigation revealed that he was the murderer of Officer Peitsch and Officer Schultz as well as eight others.

Officer Peitsch had served with the St. Paul Police Department for nine years. He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

Bio

  • Age 37
  • Tour 9 years
  • Badge 195

Incident Details

  • Cause Gunfire
  • Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber
  • Offender Deceased

alcohol violation

Most Recent Reflection

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Fred was my grandmother's younger brother. She never got over his death, mourned him by writing songs and poetry. He had a nephew named after him shortly after his death.

Theresa Kulenkamp
Great niece

May 17, 2024

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