Incident
Sergeant Peletiah Jenks was shot and killed when he attempted to disarm a woman who was waving a firearm around in a vacant lot near Biddle and Eighth Streets. He grabbed the woman from behind, but she spun around and shot him at point-blank range. The woman was later apprehended. The subject was set to be hanged on January 1, 1886, but the courts granted a reprieve. On January 24, 1887, she was allowed to plead guilty to murder in the second degree, and she was sentenced to 99 years in prison. She was pardoned by Governor Lawrence V. Stephens in 1898. Sergeant Jenks had served with the St. Louis Police Department for 15 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and several children.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
143 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sergeant Jenks gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has lost 176 officers; 112 of them killed feloniously.
Peletiah is one of 527 officers killed feloniously in MO, 63.6% of the 829 remembered there.
Peletiah is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Peletiah is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1883, 1 officer at St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department was killed feloniously, the 24th heaviest of 70 years on record. The heaviest was 1920, with 6.
In 1883, 1 officer in MO was killed feloniously, the 106th heaviest of 146 years on record. The heaviest was 1920, with 16.
In 1883, 43 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 144th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1883, 46 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 146th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Peletiah was 43. Of the 95 killed feloniously at St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 30.5 and 50.5; the middle age was 39. Peletiah had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 12 years.
Peletiah was 43. Of the 477 killed feloniously in MO whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48; the middle age was 39. Peletiah had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Peletiah was 43. 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. Peletiah had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Peletiah was 43. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Peletiah had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
October holds 10.7% of these deaths at St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department; April holds the most, 11.6%. Mondays: 9.8%.
October holds 9.9% of these deaths in MO; December holds the most, 11%. Mondays: 14.6%.
October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.
October holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Mondays: 13.8%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 63.6% of all 176 deaths at St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 38.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63.6% of all 829 deaths in MO, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 38% of these deaths.
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.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Peletiah among them.
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William Mull Apr 28, 1836
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Ephraim Hibler May 26, 1850
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Nehum M. Pratte Jun 17, 1861
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John C. Gilmore Dec 24, 1861
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John Sturdy Apr 10, 1863
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John W. Skinner Jun 16, 1868
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John Cummings Sep 10, 1875
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John Sylvester White
Nov 18, 1877
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Benjamin W. Ayers Jan 4, 1878
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Charles Printz Jun 1, 1879
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Michael Walsh Dec 5, 1880
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Patrick Doran Nov 7, 1881
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Peletiah M. Jenks Oct 8, 1883
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Henry Fahle Dec 27, 1888
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Louis H. Wilmers
Sep 4, 1890
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James Brady
Oct 6, 1890
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Lee A. Boone
May 16, 1893
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Michael Gannon
Aug 3, 1894
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William Sheahan Jun 28, 1895
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Nicholas Hunt
Nov 15, 1897
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Dennis D. Crane Jun 1, 1900
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John P. Looney
Sep 3, 1900
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Nicholas F. Beckman Sep 3, 1900
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Thomas J. Bolin Sep 30, 1900
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Richard Delaney Jun 15, 1901
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Michael Burke Dec 13, 1901
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Terence Joseph Donnelly
Apr 7, 1902
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Michael Reedy
Oct 28, 1902
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William J. Boka
Dec 28, 1902
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Hugh J. McCartney
May 31, 1903
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William Y. Hoagland
Aug 24, 1903
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Thomas J. Hadican
Sep 20, 1903
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Frank J. Ahern
Oct 10, 1904
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Thomas M. Dwyer
Oct 21, 1904
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John J. Shea
Oct 21, 1904
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James A. McCluskey
Oct 22, 1904
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Humphrey O'Leary Sep 29, 1906
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Lemuel R. Boyce Mar 31, 1907
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Zeno Fults
Aug 12, 1908
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Edward Dellmore
Oct 25, 1908
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Cornelius O'Keefe
Aug 8, 1911
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Louis Schnarr
Jun 3, 1912
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Arthur M. Huddleston
Nov 17, 1912
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Martin Kilroy
Aug 19, 1913
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William H. Shaiper Mar 22, 1914
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Charles J. Benderoth
May 2, 1914
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Michael F. Gibbons
Jan 9, 1915
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Edward G. J. Spilcker
Jan 31, 1915
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Leo Kraeger
Aug 31, 1915
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Charles P. Barmeier
Nov 25, 1915
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William A. Dillon
Apr 7, 1916
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John McKenna
Apr 7, 1916
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Louis G. Robers
May 20, 1916
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Edward O'Brien
Oct 30, 1916
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Isaac A. Kidwell
May 11, 1917
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Charles B. Redmond
Sep 24, 1917
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Andrew M. Lawrence
May 19, 1918
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August Schwind
Jun 9, 1918
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John T. Kelley Oct 15, 1918
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Henry John Hemker
Oct 17, 1918
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Otto Ude
Nov 11, 1918
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Arthur L. Mandeville Nov 11, 1918
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Joseph P. Simunek Nov 12, 1918
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William F. Hayes
Feb 23, 1919
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Thomas Ward
Jun 13, 1919
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William J. Smith
Jul 13, 1919
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Louis H. Niederschulte
Aug 12, 1919
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James M. King
Jan 18, 1920
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Edward F. Dwyer
Feb 16, 1920
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Terence McFarland
Apr 5, 1920
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Frank O. Reese
Oct 13, 1920
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Preston B. Anslyn
Oct 16, 1920
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William A. Moller
Oct 16, 1920
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George E. Geisler
Oct 31, 1920
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Charles M. Daly
Dec 10, 1920
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Michael J. Finn
May 23, 1921
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John J. McGrath
Dec 6, 1921
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Bernard C. Mengel
Apr 22, 1922
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Michael O'Connor
Apr 22, 1922
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Patrick Stapleton
May 26, 1922
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Bernard T. Cook
Jul 7, 1922
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Harry W. Lemkemeier
Jul 26, 1922
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William C. Carroll
May 7, 1923
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Michael Haggerty
Aug 4, 1923
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Edward Kuehner Nov 12, 1923
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John Flaherty
Nov 13, 1923
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William H. Anderson
Feb 10, 1924
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Roger J. Harty
Jun 11, 1924
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Sidney E. Sears
Jun 22, 1924
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Bernard Early
Jul 26, 1924
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Robert E. Woody
Nov 10, 1924
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Fred W. Benz
Nov 23, 1924
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John H. Bohlen Jan 31, 1925
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Charles B. Claggett
Feb 8, 1925
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Harry Wise Apr 4, 1925
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Carl T. Hunt
May 1, 1925
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John H. Grogan
Jul 3, 1925
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James H. Mateer
Dec 17, 1925
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William Sass
Feb 12, 1926
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Frank H. Kohring
Feb 17, 1926
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Eugene N. Lovely
Sep 25, 1926
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Edward J. Lally
Jan 2, 1927
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Edward Schaaf
Sep 29, 1927
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Douglas Chamblin
Oct 14, 1927
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Oliver W. Cook
Dec 17, 1927
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Paul L. Meyer
Feb 14, 1928
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Joseph P. McGovern
Nov 11, 1928
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John J. Walsh
Jan 9, 1929
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Roy E. Berry
Jan 31, 1929
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Joseph F. Meier
Apr 7, 1929
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William M. McCormack
Jun 25, 1929
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Edward K. Schnittker
Jun 4, 1930
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Harry J. Stussie
Mar 15, 1931
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Adolph Kreidler
Sep 28, 1931
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Jeremiah O'Connor
Dec 27, 1931
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George Moran
Dec 31, 1931
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George Schrameyer
Apr 16, 1932
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Joseph Theobald, Jr.
Nov 5, 1933
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Albert R. Siko
May 1, 1934
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James J. Carmody
May 31, 1934
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 2-E
Others Who Wore This Badge
175 officers from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















