Charles Mayer
Agency patch
Police Officer

Charles Mayer

Saint Paul Police Department — Saint Paul, MN
Felonious
End of Watch February 1, 1902
Age 41
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Badge 28
The Vigil Panel 17 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Charles Mayer was shot and killed while investigating a burglary at the intersection of University Avenue and Farrington Avenue at 0220 hours. He surprised the three burglars who were attempting to break into a butcher shop. Officer Mayer was shot in the groin with a .44 caliber handgun. He was able to return fire but did not strike the suspects. All three suspects were eventually arrested in Kansas but had to be released due to lack of evidence and a key witness refusing to testify. One of the suspects shot and killed Officer Lafayette Smith of the Omaha, Nebraska Police Department on January 14, 1909. He was later shot and killed by a Omaha police detective. Officer Mayer had been with the agency for four years and was assigned to the Bicycle Squad.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtpke0f506ta6wx0kbd1g
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Charles. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Mayer gave the Saint Paul Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Saint Paul community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Mayer.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Saint Paul, Ramsey County, MN
Platform Identity sainpd.ramsey.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 1, 1902
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 41
Badge Number 28
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Charles is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1902, 104 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 49th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Charles was 41. 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 had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

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.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Saint Paul Police Department has 33 officers remembered here, Charles among them.

Police Officer Charles Mayer

Saint Paul Police Department · End of Watch February 1, 1902

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 41-W

↑