Incident
Patrolman Ronald St. Germain was killed in a motorcycle accident after escorting a caravan carrying handicapped children to a circus at the fairgrounds. While returning on his three-wheeled motorcycle, it ran off the roadway crashing through a metal fence before causing Patrolman St. Germain to be thrown head first into a tree, causing a broken neck and internal bleeding which he died from. Patrolman St. Germain had served with the South Bend Police Department for three years.
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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.
Patrolman St. Germain gave the South Bend Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the South Bend community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman St. Germain.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
South Bend Police Department has lost 15 officers; 4 of them lost to accidents.
Ronald is one of 151 officers lost to accidents in IN, 30% of the 503 remembered there.
Ronald is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Ronald is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1967, 4 officers in IN were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1967, 73 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 38th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1967, 92 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 33rd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Ronald was 32. Of the 149 lost to accidents in IN whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 47; the middle age was 36. Ronald had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 4.6 years.
Ronald was 32. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Ronald had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Ronald was 32. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Ronald had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 8.6% of these deaths in IN; December holds the most, 11.3%. Saturdays: 15.2%.
August holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Saturdays: 14.9%.
August holds 9.3% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Saturdays: 14.7%.
How
Accident deaths account for 26.7% of all 15 deaths at South Bend Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 503 deaths in IN, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
South Bend Police Department has 15 officers remembered here, Ronald among them.
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Oscar W. Christensen
May 11, 1897
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Lewis Keller
Feb 25, 1898
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Samuel Cooper Nov 1, 1900
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Hans B. Brandt
Jun 18, 1916
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Fred E. Buhland Jan 10, 1921
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Neil Mason McIntyre
Dec 25, 1923
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Lloyd L. Thompson
Feb 27, 1932
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Charles E. Farkas, Sr.
May 27, 1933
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Delbert Thompson
May 27, 1933
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Howard C. Wagner
Jun 30, 1934
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Ronald S. St. Germain, Sr.
Aug 19, 1967
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Thomas J. DeRue, Sr.
Nov 14, 1974
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Paul Richard Deguch
Aug 24, 1997
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Scott Lee Severns
Apr 23, 2006
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Nick Samuel Polizzotto
Apr 24, 2007
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from South Bend Police Department are honored on badge.nw.











