Incident
Sergeant James Wencewicz suffered a fatal heart attack following a high-speed pursuit and a struggle with a juvenile suspect in front of the Hampton Avenue Police Station. The subject had led officers on a high-speed pursuit that ended in front of the station where Sergeant Wencewicz had set up a roadblock. Sergeant Wencewicz had served with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department for over 14 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtneyj5bh79wke96ex48h- Stewardship
- 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.
Sergeant Wencewicz gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Wencewicz.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Cardiac
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has lost 176 officers; 3 of them lost to cardiac events.
James is one of 32 officers lost to cardiac events in MO, 3.9% of the 829 remembered there.
James is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,551 remembered there.
James is one of 1,309 officers lost to cardiac events worldwide, 3.8% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1978, 1 officer in MO was lost to cardiac events, the 8th heaviest of 23 years on record. The heaviest was 2007, with 3.
In 1978, 19 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 12th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
In 1978, 19 officers worldwide were lost to cardiac events, the 12th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
Who
James was 34. Of the 30 lost to cardiac events in MO whose age is recorded, half were between 48.5 and 65; the middle age was 56. James had served 14.7 years; the middle length of service was 18 years.
James was 34. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. James had served 14.7 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
James was 34. Of the 1,251 lost to cardiac events worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 42.5 and 55; the middle age was 48. James had served 14.7 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
When
July holds 6.3% of these deaths in MO; February holds the most, 18.8%. Mondays: 18.8%.
July holds 7.2% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Mondays: 12.9%.
July holds 7.2% of these deaths worldwide; January holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13%.
How
Cardiac deaths account for 1.7% of all 176 deaths at St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 3.9% of all 829 deaths in MO, the 3rd most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 3.8% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 4th most common cause.
His people
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, James 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 7-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
175 officers from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















