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Incident
Officers Fred Peitsch and John Schultz were shot and killed while questioning a possible bootlegging suspect at 889 Laurel Avenue. The man shot the officers several times. As Officer Schultz attempted to crawl back to his patrol car the man shot him two more times, including once in the head. The suspect then fled in their patrol car. Three suspects were apprehended two days later in Menomonie, Wisconsin, and charged with both murders and several robberies. They were each sentenced to 240 years on the robbery charges but the murder charges were dismissed due to insufficient evidence. In September 1927 a gangster arrested for murdering another criminal in St. Paul stated that the dead man had murdered two police officers and several others. An investigation revealed that he was the murderer of Officer Peitsch and Officer Schultz as well as eight others. Officer Peitsch had served with the St. Paul Police Department for nine years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- 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.
Police Officer Peitsch gave the Saint Paul Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Saint Paul community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Peitsch.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Saint Paul Police Department has lost 33 officers; 20 of them killed feloniously.
Fred is one of 173 officers killed feloniously in MN, 59% of the 293 remembered there.
Fred is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Fred 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 1926, 2 officers at Saint Paul Police Department were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1926, 3 officers in MN were killed feloniously, the 10th heaviest of 93 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 11.
In 1926, 209 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1926, 209 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 12th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Fred was 37. Of the 20 killed feloniously at Saint Paul Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 31.5 and 42; the middle age was 36.5. Fred had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Fred was 37. Of the 166 killed feloniously in MN whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 49; the middle age was 41. Fred had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Fred was 37. 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. Fred had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Fred was 37. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Fred had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
February holds 15% of these deaths at Saint Paul Police Department; August holds the most, 30%. Tuesdays: 10%.
February holds 6.9% of these deaths in MN; August holds the most, 16.8%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 60.6% of all 33 deaths at Saint Paul Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 50% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 59% of all 293 deaths in MN, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 24.9% 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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Saint Paul Police Department has 33 officers remembered here, Fred among them.
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Daniel O'Connell Jun 17, 1882
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Hans Hanson
Aug 3, 1888
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Thomas C. McCarrick Jun 19, 1891
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Charles Mayer
Feb 1, 1902
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James William Finn
Jun 3, 1902
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Richard Cronin
Jan 3, 1905
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Frank Fraser
Aug 14, 1911
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Michael J. Sullivan
Jun 26, 1914
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Hans Aamold
Sep 27, 1914
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Paul Gottfried
Aug 3, 1919
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William W. McClintock
Apr 2, 1922
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George Albert Stegner
Oct 12, 1922
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E. Earl Hackert
Feb 6, 1923
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William F. Wilson
Feb 6, 1923
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Frank Milanoski
Aug 15, 1924
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Albert J. Cunnien
Jul 3, 1925
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Fred A. Peitsch
Feb 23, 1926
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John Schultz
Feb 23, 1926
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Calbert H. Leedom
Jun 20, 1926
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Axel J. Soderberg
Mar 20, 1928
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Mathew Weiss
Jun 17, 1933
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Lawrence F. Tierney
Nov 14, 1934
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Richard G. Hinshaw
Oct 1, 1937
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Allan G. Lee
Sep 10, 1949
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Alfred V. Sandquist
Jun 18, 1959
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James T. Sackett, Sr.
May 22, 1970
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John Harold Larson
Aug 10, 1974
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John J. O'Brien
Apr 16, 1981
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Ronald Michael Ryan, Jr.
Aug 26, 1994
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Timothy James Jones
Aug 26, 1994
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Gerald Dennis Vick
May 6, 2005
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Joshua Phillip Lynaugh
Feb 16, 2013
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Felicia Dee Reilly
Mar 1, 2025
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 55-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
32 officers from Saint Paul Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
