Charles LeRoy Edinger

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police — Pittsburgh, PA

Felonious

End of Watch June 6, 1917

Age 33

Tour of Duty 10 yrs 7 mo

The Vigil Panel 32 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 100

Incident

Patrolman Charles Edinger was shot and killed while responding to a liquor store burglary at 3703 Fifth Avenue. Patrolman Edinger had responded to a call for help from the liquor store owner but had to retreat when the subject opened fire, wounding the store owner's 20-year-old son. Upon the arrival of other units, Patrolman Edinger entered the store through a rear window to flush the subject out through the front door. While fleeing out the front door, the subject shot Patrolman Edinger. Officers wounded the burglar, a deserter from the United States Army, as he exited the building. Patrolman Edinger was taken to Homeopathic Hospital, succumbing to his wounds several hours later. On June 23, the liquor store owner's son succumbed to his wounds. It was initially thought that Patrolman Edinger was killed in a case of mistaken identity. However, a coroner's jury discovered that the bullet removed from him did not match the caliber of weapon the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police issued. On July 12, the suspect was held by a coroner's jury and charged the suspect with two counts of homicide. The suspect was held on additional charges in September for entering a building with the intent of committing a felony and carrying a concealed weapon. On February 25, 1918, the suspect was found guilty of first-degree murder for the liquor store owner's son and second-degree murder for Patrolman Edinger. The suspect was given a death sentence handed down to the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court on March 10, 1919. The suspect was sentenced to death and electrocuted on January 5, 1920, at Rockview Prison. Patrolman Edinger served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for less than 11 years and was assigned to the Number 4 Police Station Oakland, present-day Zone 4 Police Station Oakland.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-AEC002E1
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.
Patrolman Edinger gave the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police 10 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Edinger.

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

Agency

Department Pittsburgh Bureau of Police

Location Pittsburgh, PA

Platform Identity pittpd.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 6, 1917

Tour of Duty 10 yrs 7 mo

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber

Offender Electrocuted

Patrolman Charles LeRoy Edinger 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, 45 of 101 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 44.6% of this agency's fallen.

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police

of 101 officers

44.6% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious