Incident
Officers Charles Castor and Thomas Finnelly were shot and killed when they attempted to arrest a suspect that was wanted for murder in Veley, Greece. The officers were informed by an informant that the suspect would be arriving in San Francisco on that day at the Ferry Building. When the officers attempted to arrest the suspect, the suspect shot them both. The suspect also shot and wounded the informant who pointed him out to the police. The suspect was captured at the scene, tried, and hanged on March 14, 1913. A relative of the suspect killed the informant and was later arrested. Officer Castor had served with the San Francisco Police Department for 22 years. He was survived by his wife and six sons. He is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, California.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and six sons.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-CA-01B9CEB3- 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.
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Tributes
22 years. You could have gone home.
Officer Castor gave the San Francisco Police Department 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Castor.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Charles F. Castor 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 97,756 officers honored here.
In CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At San Francisco Police Department, 66 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles F. Castor's cause is highlighted.
How Charles F. Castor Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles F. Castor is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles F. Castor was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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