Charles H. Pender
Agency patch
Chief of Police

Charles H. Pender

Accident
End of Watch April 26, 1904
Age 31
The Vigil Panel 19 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief of Police Charles Pender was electrocuted when he attempted to remove two downed electrical line from a roadway.

He was killed instantly when he came in contact with the wires.

Chief Pender had served with the California Borough Police Department for 10 months. He had previously served with the Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department and the Pittsburgh Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-483D8FFD
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Pender served with the California Borough Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the California community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Pender.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location California, PA
Platform Identity calipd.washington.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 26, 1904
Age 31
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Chief of Police Charles H. Pender is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In PA, 417 of 1,261 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.1% of this state's fallen. That is 33.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At California Borough Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

California Borough Police Department
1
of 2 officers
50% Accident
PA — Statewide
417
of 1,261 officers
33.1% Accident
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles H. Pender's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Charles H. Pender Compares

Age at Death
31
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Charles H. Pender is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
708
May
848
Jun
797
Jul
899
Aug
938
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from California Borough Police Department are honored on badge.nw.