Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Leo Pavlak was shot and killed during a robbery of a payroll while exiting the post office on Concord Street in South St. Paul. Patrolman Pavlak was escorting two messengers from the post office when a car pulled up, emitting a lot of smoke, and two subjects got out. Patrolman Pavlak complied with their orders to put his hands up. At that time, another patrolman came around the corner, and the men opened fire on him, striking him several times. Then, without warning, the man covering Patrolman Pavlak shot him in the head with a shotgun. The shooter was the brother of the leader of the Barker-Karpis Gang. Patrolman Pavlak had served with the South St. Paul Police Department for only four months. Survivors include his wife and two children. His son served as a St. Paul police officer, and two of his grandsons and a great-grandson also served with Minnesota law enforcement agencies. He is buried in Cavalry Cemetery in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Post Office was renamed the Officer Leo Pavlak Post Office in his honor. The Barker-Karpis Gang committed violent crimes throughout the American Midwest in the late 1920s and mid-1930s. Members and associates of the gang were responsible for the murders of more than ten law enforcement officers. Please click here to view all the law enforcement officers killed by the Barker-Karpis Gang.
Survivors
Survivors include his wife and two children. His son served as a St. Paul police officer, and two of his grandsons and a great-grandson also served with Minnesota law enforcement agencies.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MN-568FC6C3- 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.
Patrolman Pavlak served with the South St. Paul Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the South St. Paul community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Pavlak.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Leo Pavlak 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 MN, 173 of 293 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59% of this state's fallen. That is 4.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Leo Pavlak's cause is highlighted.
How Leo Pavlak Compares
Offender Outcome
Killed during an attempted prison break
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Leo Pavlak is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Leo Pavlak was killed by shotgun.