Ernest Walter Schilke

Bristol Police Department — Bristol, CT

Accident Veteran →

End of Watch May 17, 1944

Age 23

The Vigil Panel 80 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 4

Incident

Supernumerary Ernest Schilke died after being overcome by carbon monoxide gas after a gas explosion at a mill on Broad Street. Two workmen were making repairs following the explosion when they were overcome by the fumes. Supernumerary Schilke and fire officials arrived at the scene and attempted to rescue one of the workmen who had collapsed. Supernumerary Schilke and one of the fire officials were both overcome and the Supernumerary died as a result. Supernumerary Schilke had served as a Corporal in the U.S. Army during WW II.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CT-4AA3D907
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

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Supernumerary Officer Schilke served with the Bristol Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Bristol community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Bristol Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Bristol, CT

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

Service Record

End of Watch May 17, 1944

Age 23

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

Ernest Walter Schilke served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Supernumerary Officer Ernest Walter Schilke is one of 10,095 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,587 officers honored here.

In CT, 73 of 169 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 43.2% of this state's fallen. That is 12.2 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.

At Bristol Police Department, 1 of 5 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 20% of this agency's fallen.

Bristol Police Department

of 5 officers

20% Accident

CT — Statewide

of 169 officers

43.2% Accident

Nationwide

10,095

of 32,587 officers

31% Accident