Patrolman

Charles Metzgar

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police — Pittsburgh, PA
Felonious
End of Watch May 11, 1898
Age 48
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Charles Metzgar succumbed to two gunshot wounds sustained 11 days earlier while attempting to arrest a man for fighting at the corner of Second Avenue and Greenfield Avenue, in Hazelwood. As Patrolman Metzgar walked the man to the police call box the subject suddenly pulled out a revolver and shot him in the head twice before fleeing. Patrolman Metzgar was taken to Mercy Hospital where he remained until succumbing to his wounds. The subject was arrested a short time later and charged with murder. He was convicted of second degree murder on July 11, 1898, and sentenced to 14 years. Patrolman Metzgar had served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for 14 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

128 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Metzgar gave the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police 14 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA
Platform Identity pittpd.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 11, 1898
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
Age 48
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Charles is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1898, 89 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 69th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Charles was 48. 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. Charles had served 14 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police has 101 officers remembered here, Charles among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Charles Metzgar

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police · End of Watch May 11, 1898

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 12-E

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