Charles Patnaude

Pawtucket Police Dept. — Pawtucket, RI

Felonious

End of Watch September 30, 1952

Age 47

Badge 19

The Vigil Panel 88 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Patrolman Charles Patnaude was shot and killed while attempting to apprehend a bank robbery suspect. The suspect had robbed an East Providence bank and fled to a home on Sherman Street in Pawtucket where he took three hostages. As Patrolman Patnaude exited his patrol wagon the suspect opened fire with a .30-.30 rifle, striking him. He was transported to Pawtucket Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds an hour later. The suspect, 27, an escaped mental patient, was arrested and committed in a mental institution. In 1966 he was declared sane, tried for bank robbery and convicted. In a chilling coincidence, Patrolman Patnaude was shot near the house in which he was born and died on the lawn of the house in which he grew up in. Patrolman Patnaude had been with the agency for over 25 years and had planned to retire in December.

Survivors

He was survived by his son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-RI-3EE3CF32
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 Patnaude served with the Pawtucket Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Pawtucket community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Patnaude.

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

Agency

Department Pawtucket Police Dept.

Location Pawtucket, RI

Platform Identity pawtpd.providence.ri.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 30, 1952

Age 47

Badge Number 19

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; .30-.30

Offender Committed

Patrolman Charles Patnaude 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 RI, 25 of 55 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 45.5% of this state's fallen. That is 8.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Pawtucket Police Dept., 4 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this agency's fallen.

Pawtucket Police Dept.

of 7 officers

57.1% Felonious

RI — Statewide

of 55 officers

45.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious