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
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-A895597E- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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
Sergeant Adolph Bayer is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department, 13 of 36 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 36.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Adolph Bayer's cause is highlighted.
How Adolph Bayer Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Adolph Bayer is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
35 officers from Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.




