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Incident
Sergeant Adolph Bayer was shot and killed in Cleveland, Ohio, while attempting to arrest one or more subjects breaking into a freight car between Kinsman Road and Holton Avenue.
His body was located between two strings of freight cars suffering from several gunshot wounds. His body was near a boxcar that had its seal broken and door open. Despite being wounded he was able to return fire but did not strike the subjects.
He was murdered on his first night returning to work after a three-month layoff.
Sergeant Bayer had served with the Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department for 15 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two children, mother, and seven siblings.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Bayer gave the Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphpia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Bayer.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department has lost 36 officers; 13 of them killed feloniously.
Adolph is one of 598 officers killed feloniously in PA, 47.4% of the 1,262 remembered there.
Adolph is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Adolph is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1932, 1 officer at Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1932, 8 officers in PA were killed feloniously, the 15th heaviest of 152 years on record. The heaviest was 1918, with 16.
In 1932, 210 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 8th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1932, 210 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 11th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Adolph was 39. Of the 11 killed feloniously at Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 41; the middle age was 36. Adolph had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Adolph was 39. Of the 585 killed feloniously in PA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 37. Adolph had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Adolph was 39. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Adolph had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Adolph was 39. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Adolph had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 7.7% of these deaths at Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department; September holds the most, 23.1%. Wednesdays: 30.8%.
August holds 8.5% of these deaths in PA; September holds the most, 10.5%. Wednesdays: 15.4%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 36.1% of all 36 deaths at Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 47.4% of all 1,262 deaths in PA, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause.
His people
Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department has 36 officers remembered here, Adolph among them.
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William R. Plummer
Nov 25, 1879
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Augustus Fuchshuber
Aug 4, 1894
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William Lewis Jun 28, 1895
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Jesse Shisler Oct 16, 1899
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David McConnell
Jun 30, 1901
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John Mahoney Apr 13, 1906
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Charles L. D. Sidle Aug 5, 1906
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Edward B. Stanton Sep 5, 1908
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Harry Hinkson Boon Jun 30, 1909
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Frank David Mayrose Nov 13, 1912
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John Louis Beisser Oct 20, 1916
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William D. Bradley Jul 13, 1917
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Ralph Malcolm Mullen Sep 10, 1917
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John J. Ellis Sep 26, 1918
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Walter Henry Goscenski
Aug 3, 1919
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Charles S. Thurston
Feb 2, 1920
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Berry John Butcher Jul 10, 1920
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Frank P. Flynn Jul 18, 1920
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Richard J. Connor Dec 1, 1920
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Lloyd Bernard Leaman
Nov 23, 1921
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Gerald W. Sibert
Oct 5, 1922
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Charles W. Reinke Feb 14, 1923
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Joseph Windolph Lintner Jun 23, 1923
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Martin J. Gaffeney Mar 21, 1924
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Charles Henry Roeder May 30, 1924
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Walter F. Piatt
Nov 8, 1931
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Homer Elder Jul 7, 1932
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Adolph Bayer
Aug 10, 1932
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James J. Harrold Nov 3, 1932
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John A. Connor Jan 25, 1935
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Eugene A. Gurganus Oct 17, 1935
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Joseph E. Bixler
Nov 3, 1939
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Charles J. Westdhal, Jr. Dec 11, 1939
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Thomas F. Prince Dec 17, 1941
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Peter Shemela
Apr 18, 1944
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William J. Costello Jul 11, 1945
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
35 officers from Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
