Douglas Chamblin
Agency patch
Detective

Douglas Chamblin

Accident
End of Watch October 14, 1927
Age 36
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
The Vigil Panel 54 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Douglas Chamblin and Detective Sergeant Edward Schaaf were killed when a portion of a building collapsed on them at Easton and Prairie Avenues during a tornado. The officers were on patrol when they saw the tornado forming and attempted to take cover. As they were trying to get under the rear of their car the building collapsed crushing both of them. Detective Sergeant was killed at the scene and Detective Chamblin succumbed to his injuries 15 days later. More than 70 people were killed as a result of the storm.

Survivors

Detective Chamblin had been with the agency for seven years and was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtmqm9gsagw0m7h1akd17
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Douglas. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Chamblin gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Chamblin.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location St. Louis, City of Saint Louis, MO
Platform Identity stlopd.saintlouis.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 14, 1927
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 36
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Douglas is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1927, 114 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Douglas was 36. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Douglas had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

October holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Fridays: 15.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Douglas among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Douglas Chamblin

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch October 14, 1927

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 61-W

↑