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Bernard Early
Agency patch
Police Officer

Bernard Early

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department — St. Louis, MO
Felonious
United States flag Missouri flag
End of Watch July 26, 1924
Age 51
Tour of Duty 21 yrs
The Vigil Panel 47 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 175

Incident

Police Officer Bernard Early was shot and killed while attempting to stop a robbery in a tavern at Easton Avenue and Vendeventer Avenue. While Officer Early was inside of the tavern a man entered and ordered everyone to put their hands up. Officer Early attempted to strike the man with his nightstick but missed. The man then turned and shot him several times. Officer Early was able to make it to a call box and summons help. He gave a description of the suspect, who was later arrested, before succumbing to his wounds. The 21-year-old suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to 30 years. He was paroled on August 11, 1934. Officer Early had been with the agency for 21 years.

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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

21 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer Early gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 21 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Early.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch July 26, 1924
Tour of Duty 21 yrs
Age 51
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Bernard is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1924, 225 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Bernard was 51. 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. Bernard had served 21 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Bernard Early

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch July 26, 1924

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 11-E

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