Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman George Effinger succumbed to wounds sustained 5 years earlier when he and four other officers went to a restaurant on East 55th Street to arrest a Pennsylvania prison escapee. A customer had recognized the suspect and called the police. When they arrived, they approached the man with their guns holstered in order to not incite a shooting match. The suspect, however, opened fire, striking Patrolman Anthony Wieczorek four times and striking Patrolman George Effinger once. Patrolman Wieczorek was taken to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. Patrolman Effinger succumbed to his wound on March 20, 1933. The suspect, who had been shot and wounded during the incident, was apprehended. In 1927, the subject was convicted of the murder of a payroll guard in Pittsburgh on December 23, 1925, and sentenced to death. On August 18, 1927, he and another death row inmate shot their way out of the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh. The subject and a gang he formed were responsible for several hold-ups and murders until his capture. On June 25, 1928, he shot and killed Sergeant George Barstad of the Detroit Police Department during a hold-up at the Detroit News business office. The subject recovered from his wounds and was returned to Pennsylvania, where he was executed in the electric chair on January 20, 1929. Patrolman Effinger had only served with the Cleveland Division of Police for 1 year at the time of the shooting.
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BO-US-OH-6E9F00AA- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Patrolman Effinger gave the Cleveland Division of Police 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Effinger.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman George C. Effinger 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Cleveland Division of Police, 83 of 119 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George C. Effinger's cause is highlighted.
How George C. Effinger Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1929
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George C. Effinger is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. George C. Effinger was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
118 officers from Cleveland Division of Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
