Charles Michael Flachs

United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service — Washington, DC

Felonious

End of Watch May 28, 1936

The Vigil Panel 71 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 10

Incident

Immigration Inspector Charles Flachs was shot and killed in Blaine, Washington while coming to the aid of a United States Customs inspector at the border crossing station. He had been inspecting a bus and turned one of the occupants over to the Customs inspector after the man failed to show proper identification. While the Customs inspector was interviewing the man, the subject produced a handgun and opened fire. Inspector Flachs rushed back into the room and was fatally wounded. The man, 40, who was shot and wounded, shot himself in the head as he was being taken into custody. He died in a Seattle hospital three days later. The suspect was a notorious Canadian gunman, wanted in Toronto for murder.

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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.
Immigration Inspector Flachs served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Immigration Inspector Flachs.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity usdjinsfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 28, 1936

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Committed suicide

Immigration Inspector Charles Michael Flachs 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service, 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.

United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service

of 11 officers

45.5% Felonious

DC — Statewide

754

of 1,419 officers

53.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious