Harry W. Lemkemeier

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department — St. Louis, MO

Felonious

End of Watch July 26, 1922

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

The Vigil Panel 43 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 175

Incident

Detective Sergeant Harry Lemkemeier was shot and killed when he and another detective stopped to question three suspicious men in front of Patrick Henry Public School at the intersection of Tenth Street and Biddle Street. One of the men was an escaped convict and the three were in the process of planning an armed robbery of a payroll courier. When Detective Sergeant Lemkemeier asked the driver who he was the suspect produced a revolver and opened fire, fatally wounding Detective Sergeant Lemkemeier. All three fled the scene and two were quickly arrested. One of the subjects was believed to have shot and killed Deputy Sheriff J. Edward Lee of the Ray County Sheriff's Office the next day. The subject was able to elude officers until October when detectives received word he was returning to St. Louis. The detectives set up a sting and attempted to arrest him as he stepped off of a streetcar. When he produced his revolver the detectives opened fire, killing him. Detective Sergeant Lemkemeier had served with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department for 15 years and was the commander of the Homicide Squad.

Survivors

He was survived by his father and two brothers, one of whom was also a detective.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MO-454D1508
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.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Sergeant Lemkemeier gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Lemkemeier.

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

Agency

Department St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department

Location St. Louis, MO

Platform Identity stlopd.saintlouis.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 26, 1922

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Offender Shot and killed

Detective Sergeant Harry W. Lemkemeier 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, 112 of 176 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.6% of this agency's fallen.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department

112

of 176 officers

63.6% Felonious

MO — Statewide

516

of 813 officers

63.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious