Fort Wayne Police Department, Indiana
End of Watch Wednesday, March 10, 1926
Add to My HeroesMatthew C. Gebhardt
Officer Matthew Gebhardt was shot and killed while attempting to arrest two brothers for being drunk in public. One of the brothers was able to obtain control of Officer Gebhardt's service revolver and opened fire. The shots struck both Officer Gebhardt and the man's brother, killing both.
The 21-year-old suspect was arrested and sentenced to life in prison for Officer Gebhardt's death. In 1933 he tricked doctors into thinking he had tuberculosis after he drink shellac. He was granted a 60 day parole for treatments. Once out he immediately joined John Dillinger and his gang and committed several robberies in Indiana and Kentucky. He was captured in East Chicago several weeks later and returned to prison. It was later discovered he committed several robberies during the years before he murdered Officer Gebhardt. He was paroled in 1944 but sent back to prison in 1946 to finish his life sentence after he was caught for safe cracking at the Farmer Supply store in Peru. He was paroled again in 1967.
Officer Gebhardt had served with the Fort Wayne Police Department for two years.
Bio
- Age 36
- Tour 2 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Officer's handgun
- Offender Paroled in 1967
Most Recent Reflection
View all 6 ReflectionsRest in Peace, Officer Gebhardt. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.
Officer 11169
February 4, 2013
Recent LODD Deaths
Police Officer Kyle Hicks
Corpus Christi Police Department, TX
EOW: April 24, 2024
Investigator John Hampton Coddou, III
Harris County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: April 23, 2024
Police Officer Jordan Wingate
Oakland Police Department, CA
EOW: April 20, 2024
Police Officer Luis M. Huesca
Chicago Police Department, IL
EOW: April 21, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Tobin Bolter
Ada County Sheriff's Office, ID
EOW: April 21, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Alfredo "Freddy" Flores
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA
EOW: April 20, 2024
Investigator Brian Herbert
Osage Nation Police Department, TR
EOW: April 17, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Fred Fislar
Hendricks County Sheriff's Office, IN
EOW: April 16, 2024
Police Officer Michael E. Jensen
Syracuse Police Department, NY
EOW: April 14, 2024