Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Wilmers was shot and killed as he attempted to arrest a switchman in the railroad yards. Patrolman Wilmers had learned that the railroad worker was carrying a gun and went to the Frisco Railroad Yard to arrest him. During the arrest the man shot him in the spine and then fled. The wound left Patrolman Wilmers paralyzed until his death 11 days later. The suspect was apprehended and positively identified by Patrolman Wilmers before his death. The suspect, 28, was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 45 years. The Missouri Supreme Court reversed and remanded his sentence and a new trial was ordered. He was released on July 1, 1892, and never retried.
Survivors
Patrolman Wilmers had been with the agency for one year and was survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-C3C52F45- 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
136 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Wilmers gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Louis H. Wilmers 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, 112 of 176 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Louis H. Wilmers's cause is highlighted.
How Louis H. Wilmers Compares
Offender Outcome
Released in 1892
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Louis H. Wilmers is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Louis H. Wilmers was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
175 officers from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
