Herman Henry Bartels

Wheeling Police Department — Wheeling, WV

Felonious

End of Watch May 3, 1922

Age 40

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 43 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 8

Incident

Patrolman Bartels succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained two days earlier while arresting a man for being drunk in public. The man had been arrested six times for the same charge the previous month and had vowed to kill the next policeman who arrested him. As Patrolman Bartels patrolled the Elm Grove business district, he observed the man drinking in public. After placing him under arrest, he searched the man and confiscated a small revolver. As he walked the man to jail, he was suddenly attacked. During the ensuing struggle, the man was able to regain control of the revolver and shot Patrolman Bartels in the chest. The man was taken into custody by several citizens who were attending a nearby baseball game. Patrolman Bartels was transported to North Wheeling Hospital, where he died two days later. His killer was sentenced to death for the murder, but the sentence was commuted to life in prison by the governor. Patrolman Bartels had served with the Wheeling Police Department for two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WV-DF2E64CD
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.
Patrolman Bartels gave the Wheeling Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Wheeling community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Bartels.

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

Agency

Department Wheeling Police Department

Location Wheeling, WV

Platform Identity wpd.ohio.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 3, 1922

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 40

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .32 caliber

Offender Commuted to life

Patrolman Herman Henry Bartels 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Wheeling Police Department, 5 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.6% of this agency's fallen.

Wheeling Police Department

of 9 officers

55.6% Felonious

WV — Statewide

169

of 232 officers

72.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious