Charles E. Deininger

Boston Police Department — Roxbury Crossing, MA

Felonious

End of Watch February 13, 1919

Age 38

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

The Vigil Panel 36 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 105

Incident

Patrolman Charles Deininger was shot and killed by two auto theft suspects during a stake out near the intersection of Winthrop Road and Washington Street, in Chelsea. He was working on a task force involving officers from the Boston Police Department, Revere Police Department, and Chelsea Police Deaprtment, who were searching for a gang of car thieves. Five suspects were apprehended and two were charged with his murder. One of the suspects was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 15 to 20 years in prison. On May 25, 1920, he escaped from prison with two other men. He surrendered to authorities in Middlesex County three months later. He was released from prison on September 1, 1937. One of the other escapees was serving a life sentence for the murder of Patrolman Joseph C. Reiser of the Boston, Massachusetts Police Department on January 20, 1918. He was captured in Chicago on December 24, 1920. Patrolman Deininger had served with the Boston Police Department for 13 years and had previously served with the Boston Fire Department for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-3ED88D4C
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.
Patrolman Deininger gave the Boston Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Roxbury Crossing community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Deininger.

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

Agency

Department Boston Police Department

Location Roxbury Crossing, MA

Platform Identity bpd.suffolk.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 13, 1919

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Released in 1937

Patrolman Charles E. Deininger 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 MA, 199 of 469 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.4% of this state's fallen. That is 11.8 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Boston Police Department, 45 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.5% of this agency's fallen.

Boston Police Department

of 106 officers

42.5% Felonious

MA — Statewide

199

of 469 officers

42.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious