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Incident
Officer Charles Channels was electrocuted when he attempted to move a downed wire that was in the street at the intersection of Stevens Avenue and 24th Street.
A group of children were watching the wire arc on the street. Officer Channels had them leave the area and then attempted to swing the wire over a fence until an electrician could be called. The wire swung back towards him and came in contact with his left hand. He was killed instantly.
Officer Channels had served with the Minneapolis Police Department for five years and was assigned to the Fifth Precinct.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
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.
Officer Channels served with the Minneapolis Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Minneapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Channels.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Minneapolis Police Department has lost 50 officers; 15 of them lost to accidents.
Charles is one of 84 officers lost to accidents in MN, 28.7% of the 293 remembered there.
Charles is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Charles is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1906, 1 officer at Minneapolis Police Department was lost to accidents, the 3rd heaviest of 13 years on record. The heaviest was 1913, with 2.
In 1906, 1 officer in MN was lost to accidents, the 20th heaviest of 60 years on record. The heaviest was 1923, with 3.
In 1906, 27 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 118th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1906, 40 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 115th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Charles was 38. Of the 15 lost to accidents at Minneapolis Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 34.5 and 53.5; the middle age was 41. Charles had served 0.4 years; the middle length of service was 9.5 years.
Charles was 38. Of the 84 lost to accidents in MN whose age is recorded, half were between 32.8 and 53; the middle age was 41.5. Charles had served 0.4 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Charles was 38. 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. Charles had served 0.4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Charles was 38. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Charles had served 0.4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 33.3% of these deaths at Minneapolis Police Department, more than any other month. Sundays: 13.3%.
May holds 14.3% of these deaths in MN, more than any other month. Sundays: 15.5%.
May holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Sundays: 14%.
May holds 8.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 50 deaths at Minneapolis Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 28.7% of all 293 deaths in MN, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Minneapolis Police Department has 50 officers remembered here, Charles among them.
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Robert Laughlin Jul 28, 1884
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Charles C. Channels May 27, 1906
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Joseph Ollinger
Jul 15, 1911
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William Joseph Lydon
Nov 25, 1913
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George B. Anderson
Nov 28, 1913
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Otto G. Ostby
May 19, 1915
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Nels C. Anderson
May 31, 1916
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George Connery
Apr 24, 1917
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James A. Weare
Feb 7, 1919
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George Woessner
Jun 24, 1919
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John Francis Young
Jul 13, 1919
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Frank S. Hallett
Aug 25, 1920
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Emil Engstrom
Aug 15, 1923
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Michael J. Lawrence
Dec 30, 1925
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Albert Anderson
Feb 2, 1928
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Clayton J. Seawell
May 4, 1929
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Harry E. Parker
Dec 24, 1930
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Harry McGraw
Feb 1, 1931
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Clayton Olson
Aug 9, 1931
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Harold Hagen
Aug 3, 1932
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Ira Leon Evans
Dec 16, 1932
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Leo R. Gorski
Dec 18, 1932
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John W. Thomas Aug 5, 1933
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Peter Erath May 26, 1934
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Ben J. Lehman
May 3, 1936
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Georgianna Sharrot
Jun 14, 1937
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James H. Trepanier
Sep 20, 1938
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John B. Gearty
Jul 10, 1939
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Adolpf G. Karpinsky
May 22, 1941
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Harold O. Olson
Aug 9, 1941
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John W. O'Neil
Jun 7, 1944
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Donald T. McHale
Mar 25, 1951
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Robert H. Fossum
Aug 17, 1957
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Leo M. Bessner
May 12, 1958
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William F. Herkal
May 11, 1959
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Andrew Ferman Sharp
Aug 17, 1963
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James E. Hendricks
Dec 15, 1963
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Lloyd Ellsworth Reed
Aug 6, 1965
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Richard L. Bergquist
Apr 7, 1969
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Joseph G. Pudlick
Feb 4, 1972
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Inno H. Suek
Sep 30, 1972
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George Anthony Partridge Jr.
May 26, 1976
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Richard Paul Miller, Sr.
Aug 25, 1981
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David Ward Mack
Nov 2, 1986
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Jerome Victor Haaf
Sep 25, 1992
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Paul K. Moen
Jul 1, 1995
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Ward Lee Canfield
Mar 2, 2000
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Melissa Jayne Schmidt
Aug 1, 2002
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David Richard Loeffler
May 29, 2009
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Jamal Mitchell
May 30, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 58-W
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