Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Sergeant Edward Schaaf and Detective Douglas Chamblin were killed when a portion of a building collapsed on them during a tornado at Easton and Prairie Avenues. The officers were on patrol when they saw the tornado forming and attempted to take cover. As they were trying to get under the rear of their car the building collapsed crushing both of them. Detective Sergeant was killed at the scene and Detective Chamblin succumbed to his injuries 15 days later. More than 70 people were killed as a result of the storm.
Survivors
Detective Sergeant Schaaf had been with the agency for 16 years and was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-4ED1C995- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Edward. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Sergeant Schaaf gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Schaaf.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Sergeant Edward Schaaf is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MO, 237 of 813 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 29.2% of this state's fallen. That is 1.8 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, 56 of 176 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Edward Schaaf's cause is highlighted.
How Edward Schaaf Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Edward Schaaf is highlighted in Sep.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
175 officers from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
