Casper Thomas Schmotzer

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police — Pittsburgh, PA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch January 23, 1923

Age 36

Tour of Duty 9 yrs 5 mo

The Vigil Panel 44 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 100

Incident

Sergeant Casper Schmotzer was shot and killed when he and other police officers attempted to retrieve a revolver that had been stolen from a bar that morning. Sergeant Schmotzer and another police officer were sent to 2633 Josephine Street, where the stolen gun was located. An additional officer was at the location waiting for Sergeant Schmotzer and his partner. The three officers knocked on the door, which was answered by the suspect, who claimed he did not steal the gun and then closed and locked the door. Sergeant Schmotzer and his partner went to the rear of the house in a second attempt to speak with the suspect. As they approached the rear door of the house, they were fired upon three times through the door. One bullet struck Sergeant Schmotzer in the stomach, and one bullet hit his right shoulder. The third bullet struck Sergeant Schmotzer's partner in the hand. The third officer at the scene, who had remained at the front door, found the two injured officers when he heard shots fired and ran to a nearby call box to call in the shooting. Responding officers took Sergeant Schmotzer and his partner to a nearby hospital, where Sergeant Schmotzer succumbed to his injuries. His partner recovered from his injury. An investigation of the shooting found that the stolen revolver had been in the house and was the weapon used against Sergeant Schmotzer and his partner. On June 22, the suspect was convicted of manslaughter after claiming self-defense and was sentenced to 6-8 years at the Western Penitentiary. Sergeant Schmotzer was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for more than nine years, assigned to the South Side Police Station, present-day Zone 3 Police Station South Side.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter, and two brothers; the oldest brother was also a police officer for the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-BA4D9363
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Sergeant Schmotzer gave the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police 9 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Pittsburgh Bureau of Police

Location Pittsburgh, PA

Platform Identity pittpd.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 23, 1923

Tour of Duty 9 yrs 5 mo

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Cause: Gunfire

Offender Sentenced to 6 years to 8 years

Military Service

Casper Thomas Schmotzer served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Sergeant Casper Thomas Schmotzer 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 Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, 45 of 101 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 44.6% of this agency's fallen.

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police

of 101 officers

44.6% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious