Paul Gottfried
Agency patch
Detective

Paul Gottfried

Saint Paul Police Department — Saint Paul, MN
Felonious
End of Watch August 3, 1919
Age 46
Tour of Duty 17 yrs
The Vigil Panel 37 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Paul Gottfried was shot and killed as he, other detectives, and operatives from the United States Secret Service served a search warrant related to a counterfeiting case at 4400 33rd Avenue South in Minneapolis. As Detective Gottfried confronted the man in the kitchen a struggle ensued and Detective Gottfried was shot four times. Secret Service Agents shot and killed his killer. The son of the man who shot Detective Gottfried fled from the home but was subdued by a neighbor and turned over to officers. He was also involved with counterfeiting. Detective Gottfried was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul where he died the following day. Detective Gottfried had served with the St. Paul Police Department for 17 years.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Detective Gottfried gave the Saint Paul Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Saint Paul community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Gottfried.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Saint Paul, Ramsey County, MN
Platform Identity sainpd.ramsey.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 3, 1919
Tour of Duty 17 yrs
Age 46
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Paul 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

Paul was 46. 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. Paul had served 17 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

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

Saint Paul Police Department has 33 officers remembered here, Paul among them.

VI

Where

Detective Paul Gottfried

Saint Paul Police Department · End of Watch August 3, 1919

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 45-W

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