Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Charles Yates suffered a fatal heart attack following repeated struggles with a combative female suspect he had arrested for drunk driving. He had arrested the woman following a short vehicle pursuit and struggled with her at the scene of the arrest. Another struggle ensued after arriving at the police station to administer a breath test. Patrolman Yates collapsed immediately after the last struggle. The woman was not charged in connection with his death. Patrolman Yates was a United States Army World War II veteran and had served with the Poland Township Police Department for 6 years. He was survived by his wife and five children. In December 2017, Route 224 in Mahoning County was renamed the Poland Township Police Officer Charles Yates Memorial Highway.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-A2B51413- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Yates gave the Poland Township Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Poland community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Charles K. Yates served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Charles K. Yates is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In OH, 43 of 991 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 4.3% of this state's fallen. That is 0.3 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.
At Poland Township Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles K. Yates's cause is highlighted.
How Charles K. Yates Compares
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. Charles K. Yates is highlighted in Mar.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Poland Township Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
