Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Boyce was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a burglary suspect. Officer Boyce had retired earlier in the day but was finishing out his shift on his last day of work. He had been with the agency for one year. Six months later a 17-year-old boy, in a St. Louis reformatory school, was arrested and confessed to the murder. He was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to life. He died in the state prison hospital on June 24, 1908.
Survivors
Officer Boyce was survived by his daughter and father.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-AB99E471- 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
You barely got started.
Police Officer Boyce gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Boyce.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Lemuel R. Boyce 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Lemuel R. Boyce's cause is highlighted.
How Lemuel R. Boyce Compares
Offender Outcome
Died in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lemuel R. Boyce is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Lemuel R. Boyce was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.
Others Who Wore This Badge
175 officers from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
