Roll of Honor
Incident
Officers Fred Peitsch and John Schultz were shot and killed while questioning a possible bootlegging suspect at 889 Laurel Avenue. The man shot the officers several times. As Officer Schultz attempted to crawl back to his patrol car the man shot him two more times, including once in the head. The suspect then fled in their patrol car. Three suspects were apprehended two days later in Menomonie, Wisconsin, and charged with both murders and several robberies. They were each sentenced to 240 years on the robbery charges but the murder charges were dismissed due to insufficient evidence. In September 1927 a gangster arrested for murdering another criminal in St. Paul stated that the dead man had murdered two police officers and several others. An investigation revealed that he was the murderer of Officer Peitsch and Officer Schultz as well as eight others. Officer Peitsch had served with the St. Paul Police Department for nine years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MN-39C31432- 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.
Police Officer Peitsch gave the Saint Paul Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Saint Paul community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Peitsch.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Fred A. Peitsch 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 MN, 173 of 293 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59% of this state's fallen. That is 59 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Saint Paul Police Department, 20 of 33 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Fred A. Peitsch's cause is highlighted.
How Fred A. Peitsch Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Fred A. Peitsch is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Fred A. Peitsch was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
32 officers from Saint Paul Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
