Detective Sergeant Harry W. Lemkemeier

Harry W. Lemkemeier

Detective Sergeant Harry Lemkemeier was shot and killed when he and another detective stopped to question three suspicious men in front of Patrick Henry Public School at the intersection of Tenth Street and Biddle Street.

One of the men was an escaped convict and the three were in the process of planning an armed robbery of a payroll courier. When Detective Sergeant Lemkemeier asked the driver who he was the suspect produced a revolver and opened fire, fatally wounding Detective Sergeant Lemkemeier.

All three fled the scene and two were quickly arrested. One of the subjects was believed to have shot and killed Deputy Sheriff J. Edward Lee of the Ray County Sheriff's Office the next day.

The subject was able to elude officers until October when detectives received word he was returning to St. Louis. The detectives set up a sting and attempted to arrest him as he stepped off of a streetcar. When he produced his revolver the detectives opened fire, killing him.

Detective Sergeant Lemkemeier had served with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department for 15 years and was the commander of the Homicide Squad. He was survived by his father and two brothers, one of whom was also a detective.