Roll of Honor
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
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-B626EF80- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Charles Metzgar is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 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 47.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Metzgar's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Metzgar Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Metzgar is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Metzgar was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
100 officers from Pittsburgh Bureau of Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
