Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Harry Oebels was shot and killed when he intervened in a robbery at a pharmacy at 4221 Bayless Avenue in Lemay. He had gone to the pharmacy to pick up his wife, who worked there, when two men entered and announced a holdup. When the two men ordered Sergeant Oebels to come closer, he drew his revolver and exchanged shots with the suspects. He was fatally wounded in the exchange of shots. One of his shots struck one of the suspects in the buttocks. Three weeks later, one suspect, a 38-year-old ex-convict, was apprehended near Bonne Terre when he was stopped in a stolen car. He swore he was innocent. In March of 1967, he was tried and acquitted. On April 2, 1967, an Illinois state trooper was tipped off with information as to who the killers were. One, the actual gunman, 41, was serving a 10 to 20-year sentence for burglary in Illinois State Penitentiary. Shortly after he entered prison, in August of 1966, a bullet was removed from his buttock. A ballistics test proved the bullet came from Sergeant Oesbels' service revolver. On April 21, 1967, the other suspect, 28, and his wife, 18, were apprehended in Aurora, Illinois. It was determined that the first suspect was telling the truth. He was innocent. He looked so much like one suspect he was misidentified. In 1969 the gunman was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was commuted to life on March 15, 1973. The other man was convicted of second-degree murder in 1967 and sentenced to 15 years. Sergeant Oebels had served with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department for 18 years. He was survived by his wife. His brother-in-law also served with the St. Louis Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-3460E73D- 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.
Sergeant Oebels gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Oebels.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Harry W. Oebels 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 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 63.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Harry W. Oebels's cause is highlighted.
How Harry W. Oebels Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Harry W. Oebels is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Harry W. Oebels was killed by handgun.
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.
