Roll of Honor

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Officer

John L. Oberkramer

Des Peres Police Department — Des Peres, MO

Felonious

End of Watch December 24, 1978

Age 39

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 8 mo

The Vigil Panel 120 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Police Officer John Oberkramer was struck and killed by a vehicle while manning a roadblock. The vehicle that struck him was being driven by a 14-year-old juvenile who was fleeing other officers. Two years later the subject was seriously injured in St. Louis County when he lost control of his car and crashed into a tree. Officer Oberkramer had served with the Des Peres Police Department for just over 2-1/2 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MO-DB5D0EEF
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.
Officer Oberkramer gave the Des Peres Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Des Peres community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Oberkramer.

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

Agency

Department Des Peres Police Department

Location Des Peres, MO

Platform Identity dppd.stlouis.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 24, 1978

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 8 mo

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile

Offender Not available

Officer John L. Oberkramer 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%.

Des Peres Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

MO — Statewide

516

of 813 officers

63.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John L. Oberkramer's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How John L. Oberkramer Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

2.7

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Not available

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John L. Oberkramer is highlighted in Dec.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John L. Oberkramer was killed by automobile.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518