Paul Mendelssohn

Watertown Police Department — Watertown, CT

Felonious

End of Watch March 8, 1903

Age 26

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Badge 45

The Vigil Panel 18 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 10

Incident

Officer Paul Mendelssohn was shot and killed by four masked men during a strike by employees of the Connecticut Railroad and Lighting Company. Officer Mendelssohn was guarding the North Main Street trolley when the four suspects boarded it and opened fire on him. He was struck with rounds from .22 caliber, .32 caliber, and .38 caliber handguns. The suspects fled the scene and were never identified or apprehended. Officer Mendelssohn had served with the Waterbury Police Department for 3 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three young children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CT-7F1CD895
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.
Patrol Officer Mendelssohn gave the Waterbury Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Waterbury community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Officer Mendelssohn.

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

Agency

Department Watertown Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Watertown, CT

Platform Identity watepd.naugatuck.ct.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 8, 1903

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 26

Badge Number 45

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Patrol Officer Paul Mendelssohn 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 CT, 74 of 169 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 43.8% of this state's fallen. That is 43.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Watertown Police Department, 5 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 45.5% of this agency's fallen.

Watertown Police Department

of 11 officers

45.5% Felonious

CT — Statewide

of 169 officers

43.8% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious