Ellsworth G. Deitz

Bridgeport Police Department — Bridgeport, CT

Felonious

End of Watch March 8, 1910

Age 33

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 24 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Policeman Ellsworth Deitz was shot and killed by a bank robbery suspect at Main Street and Fairfield Avenue. He was directing traffic when the suspect, who was deranged and had attempted a bank robbery earlier in the day, shot him and two other people, wounding one critically. The suspect had recently been released from the state mental hospital where he had been confined for writing threatening letters to President Theodore Roosevelt. The suspect was arrested and later recommitted to a state hospital. He died at the state mental hospital in Middletown on August 13, 1934. Policeman Deitz had served three years with the Bridgeport Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and mother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CT-69DF95F3
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.
Policeman Deitz gave the Bridgeport Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Bridgeport community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Deitz.

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

Agency

Department Bridgeport Police Department

Location Bridgeport, CT

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

Service Record

End of Watch March 8, 1910

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Died in mental institution

Policeman Ellsworth G. Deitz 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 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 10.4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Bridgeport Police Department, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Bridgeport Police Department

of 6 officers

66.7% Felonious

CT — Statewide

of 169 officers

43.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious