Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Peletiah Jenks was shot and killed when he attempted to disarm a woman who was waving a firearm around in a vacant lot near Biddle and Eighth Streets. He grabbed the woman from behind, but she spun around and shot him at point-blank range. The woman was later apprehended. The subject was set to be hanged on January 1, 1886, but the courts granted a reprieve. On January 24, 1887, she was allowed to plead guilty to murder in the second degree, and she was sentenced to 99 years in prison. She was pardoned by Governor Lawrence V. Stephens in 1898. Sergeant Jenks had served with the St. Louis Police Department for 15 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and several children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-E9888A6E- 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
143 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sergeant Jenks gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 15 years.
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
Sergeant Peletiah M. Jenks 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. Peletiah M. Jenks's cause is highlighted.
How Peletiah M. Jenks Compares
Offender Outcome
Pardoned in 1898
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Peletiah M. Jenks is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Peletiah M. Jenks was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
175 officers from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
