Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Patrolman

T. Perry Gates

LaCrosse Police Department — LaCrosse, WI

Felonious

End of Watch September 8, 1900

Age 37

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Badge 8

The Vigil Panel 16 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 2

Incident

Patrolman Perry Gates was shot and killed when he and his partner confronted three armed robbery suspects at the intersection of Third and King Streets. The suspects were wanted in Minnesota following a railroad boxcar robbery. The suspects opened fire, striking Patrolman Gates twice, and in the process, scaring the police horses away (along with the other officer who was still in the buggy). When the other officer was able to return to the scene, Patrolman Gates was dead. Patrolman Gates' killer was identified. He came close to being captured in Grand Rapids, Michigan, two years later, but escaped and was never seen again. Patrolman Gates, who joined the La Crosse Police Department in 1897, was a widower (his wife drowned in 1898). He was raising his three children when he was killed.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WI-C8EFF53F
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew T.. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Gates gave the LaCrosse Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the LaCrosse community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Gates.

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

Agency

Department LaCrosse Police Department

Location LaCrosse, La Crosse County, WI

Platform Identity lpd.lacrosse.wi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 8, 1900

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 37

Badge Number 8

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Patrolman T. Perry Gates is one of 17,558 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,584 officers honored here.

In WI, 159 of 317 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50.2% of this state's fallen. That is 3.7 percentage points below the national rate of 53.9%.

At LaCrosse Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

LaCrosse Police Department

of 3 officers

66.7% Felonious

WI — Statewide

159

of 317 officers

50.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,558

of 32,584 officers

53.9% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. T. Perry Gates's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,558 (53.9%)

Accident

10,094 (31%)

Illness

3,036 (9.3%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

334 (1%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

How T. Perry Gates Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. T. Perry Gates is highlighted in Sep.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,516

May

1,504

Jun

1,442

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,491

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. T. Perry Gates was killed by gun.

Handgun

3,684

Gun

3,592

Gun; Unknown type

1,492

Shotgun

1,109

Rifle

935

Officer's handgun

909

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from LaCrosse Police Department are honored on badge.nw.