Harry A. Chesmore

Duluth Police Department — Duluth, MN

Felonious

End of Watch January 6, 1911

Age 25

The Vigil Panel 25 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 7

Incident

Patrol Officer Harry Chesmore was shot and killed while transporting two robbery suspects to the police headquarters. The two suspects, one juvenile and one adult, had just robbed the porter at the Hotel McKay. Officer Chesmore arrested the two as they attempted to flee across the Interstate Bridge into Superior, Wisconsin. He had them board the streetcar platform and was taking them to headquarters when the juvenile complained of being cold. He had told the juvenile to go inside the streetcar to stay warm. Moments later, he was distracted by a drunk man on the streetcar's platform while the streetcar was in the area of Garfield Avenue and Superior Street. One of the prisoners took the opportunity to draw a pistol and shot Officer Chesmore in the chest and head, fatally wounding him. The two then robbed the streetcar's passengers and fled. Officer Chesmore succumbed to his wounds the following day. Both were later apprehended, convicted of second-degree murder, and sentenced to life in prison. One of the subjects died in prison of tuberculosis, and the other died of the same disease shortly after being released to his parents.

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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.
Patrol Officer Chesmore served with the Duluth Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Duluth community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Officer Chesmore.

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

Agency

Department Duluth Police Department

Location Duluth, MN

Platform Identity dpd.stlouis.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 6, 1911

Age 25

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender prisoner custody

Patrol Officer Harry A. Chesmore 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%.

At Duluth Police Department, 7 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 87.5% of this agency's fallen.

Duluth Police Department

of 8 officers

87.5% Felonious

MN — Statewide

173

of 293 officers

59% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious