Paul Gottfried

Saint Paul Police Department — Saint Paul, MN

Felonious

End of Watch August 3, 1919

Age 46

Tour of Duty 17 yrs

The Vigil Panel 37 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 32

Incident

Detective Paul Gottfried was shot and killed as he, other detectives, and operatives from the United States Secret Service served a search warrant related to a counterfeiting case at 4400 33rd Avenue South in Minneapolis. As Detective Gottfried confronted the man in the kitchen a struggle ensued and Detective Gottfried was shot four times. Secret Service Agents shot and killed his killer. The son of the man who shot Detective Gottfried fled from the home but was subdued by a neighbor and turned over to officers. He was also involved with counterfeiting. Detective Gottfried was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul where he died the following day. Detective Gottfried had served with the St. Paul Police Department for 17 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MN-D125CEAC
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 Gottfried gave the Saint Paul Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Saint Paul community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Gottfried.

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

Agency

Department Saint Paul Police Department

Location Saint Paul, MN

Platform Identity sainpd.ramsey.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 3, 1919

Tour of Duty 17 yrs

Age 46

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber

Offender Shot and killed

Detective Paul Gottfried 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 MN, 173 of 293 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59% of this state's fallen. That is 4.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Saint Paul Police Department, 20 of 33 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.6% of this agency's fallen.

Saint Paul Police Department

of 33 officers

60.6% Felonious

MN — Statewide

173

of 293 officers

59% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious