Charles Metzgar

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police — Pittsburgh, PA

Felonious

End of Watch May 11, 1898

Age 48

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

The Vigil Panel 14 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 100

Incident

Patrolman Charles Metzgar succumbed to two gunshot wounds sustained 11 days earlier while attempting to arrest a man for fighting at the corner of Second Avenue and Greenfield Avenue, in Hazelwood. As Patrolman Metzgar walked the man to the police call box the subject suddenly pulled out a revolver and shot him in the head twice before fleeing. Patrolman Metzgar was taken to Mercy Hospital where he remained until succumbing to his wounds. The subject was arrested a short time later and charged with murder. He was convicted of second degree murder on July 11, 1898, and sentenced to 14 years. Patrolman Metzgar had served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for 14 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-B626EF80
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

128 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Metzgar gave the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police 14 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— 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 May 11, 1898

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

Age 48

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Offender Sentenced to 14 years

Patrolman Charles Metzgar 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