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Incident
Special Police Officer Charles Wetzel succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained three days earlier when he was shot after encountering an armed subject shortly after midnight.
The subject had just been released from prison and had confronted a person singing on K Street, between Fifth Street and Sixth Street. The subject was upset the man was singing at midnight and threatened him with a handgun. Officer Wetzel was nearby and observed the confrontation. He approached the man and ordered him to put his gun down while displaying his badge.
The man yelled at Officer Wetzel and shot him in the abdomen before fleeing. Although the man was identified as a former convict it is not known if he was ever apprehended.
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
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Tributes
133 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Special Police Officer Wetzel served with the Sacramento Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Sacramento community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Sacramento Police Department has lost 17 officers; 10 of them killed feloniously.
Charles is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Charles is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Charles 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 1893, 1 officer at Sacramento Police Department was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 9 years on record. The heaviest was 1963, with 2.
In 1893, 3 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 114th heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1893, 76 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 92nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1893, 81 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 87th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Charles was 28. Of the 10 killed feloniously at Sacramento Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 26.3 and 37.8; the middle age was 28.
Charles was 28. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35.
Charles was 28. 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.
Charles was 28. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
August holds 20% of these deaths at Sacramento Police Department; February holds the most, 20%. Tuesdays: 30%.
August holds 9% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Tuesdays: 12%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 58.8% of all 17 deaths at Sacramento Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 20% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 7.4% 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; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 8.5% of these deaths.
His people
Sacramento Police Department has 17 officers remembered here, Charles among them.
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George C. Chapman Apr 28, 1858
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Joseph Scott Dec 7, 1878
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Charles H. Wetzel
Aug 29, 1893
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Frank Auener Lungershausen
Dec 27, 1935
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Frank Fragoso Mello
Jun 30, 1951
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Arnold Z. Gamble
Feb 15, 1963
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Eugene Edgar McKnight
Jul 23, 1963
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Bernard M. Bennett
May 13, 1970
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Andrew Lee Collins
Apr 19, 1972
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Doyle Allen Popovich
Aug 3, 1974
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Rodney Taylor Butts
Oct 15, 1975
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William Henry Warner
Jun 1, 1981
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Michael David Gartrell
Apr 25, 1991
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Emily Jewett Morgenroth
Oct 17, 1997
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William Chandler Bean, Jr.
Feb 9, 1999
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Matthew M Prichard Apr 20, 2008
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Tara Christina O'Sullivan
Jun 19, 2019
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 43-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
16 officers from Sacramento Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
