Edward Schaaf
Agency patch
Detective Sergeant

Edward Schaaf

Accident
End of Watch September 29, 1927
Age 41
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
The Vigil Panel 54 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Sergeant Edward Schaaf and Detective Douglas Chamblin were killed when a portion of a building collapsed on them during a tornado at Easton and Prairie Avenues. The officers were on patrol when they saw the tornado forming and attempted to take cover. As they were trying to get under the rear of their car the building collapsed crushing both of them. Detective Sergeant was killed at the scene and Detective Chamblin succumbed to his injuries 15 days later. More than 70 people were killed as a result of the storm.

Survivors

Detective Sergeant Schaaf had been with the agency for 16 years and was survived by his wife and two children.

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 Sergeant Schaaf gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Schaaf.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch September 29, 1927
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Age 41
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Edward is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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 1927, 114 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Edward was 41. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Edward had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Sergeant Edward Schaaf

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch September 29, 1927

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 26-W

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