Charles E. Deininger
Agency patch
Patrolman

Charles E. Deininger

Boston Police Department — Roxbury Crossing, MA
Felonious
End of Watch February 13, 1919
Age 38
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
The Vigil Panel 36 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Charles Deininger was shot and killed by two auto theft suspects during a stake out near the intersection of Winthrop Road and Washington Street, in Chelsea. He was working on a task force involving officers from the Boston Police Department, Revere Police Department, and Chelsea Police Deaprtment, who were searching for a gang of car thieves. Five suspects were apprehended and two were charged with his murder. One of the suspects was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 15 to 20 years in prison. On May 25, 1920, he escaped from prison with two other men. He surrendered to authorities in Middlesex County three months later. He was released from prison on September 1, 1937. One of the other escapees was serving a life sentence for the murder of Patrolman Joseph C. Reiser of the Boston, Massachusetts Police Department on January 20, 1918. He was captured in Chicago on December 24, 1920. Patrolman Deininger had served with the Boston Police Department for 13 years and had previously served with the Boston Fire Department for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Deininger gave the Boston Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Roxbury Crossing community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Deininger.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Roxbury Crossing, Suffolk County, MA
Platform Identity bpd.suffolk.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 13, 1919
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Age 38
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Charles is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% 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
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1919, 212 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Charles was 38. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Charles had served 13 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Boston Police Department has 106 officers remembered here, Charles among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Charles E. Deininger

Boston Police Department · End of Watch February 13, 1919

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 48-W

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