Charles H. Bates
Agency patch
Officer

Charles H. Bates

San Francisco Police Department — San Francisco, CA
Felonious
End of Watch July 26, 1912
Age 33
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 26 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Charles Bates was shot and killed in an attempted hold-up at the intersection of 16th Street and Shotwell Street shortly before midnight. He had just completed his shift, had changed into civilian clothes, and was walking home when he was approached by a man who attempted to rob him. He was shot once in the chest as he took action to attempt to stop the robbery. He was transported to Central Emergency Hospital where he was pronounced dead. His murder remains unsolved. Officer Bates had served with the San Francisco Police Department for five years and was assigned to the Mission Street Station.

Survivors

He 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.
Officer Bates gave the San Francisco Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Bates.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location San Francisco, CA
Platform Identity sfpd.sf.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 26, 1912
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 33
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
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1912, 133 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 33rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Charles was 33. 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 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

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

San Francisco Police Department has 106 officers remembered here, Charles among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Charles H. Bates

San Francisco Police Department · End of Watch July 26, 1912

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 47-E

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