Patrolman
Oscar Waldemar Christensen
South Bend Police Department
Tuesday, May 11, 1897
Oscar Waldemar Christensen
South Bend Police Department
Tuesday, May 11, 1897
Age: 33
Served:
Badge #:
Served:
Badge #:
Panel 29W, Line 5
Panel L23, Line 9
Incident Details
Cause of Death:Gunfire
Date/Time of Incident:
Tuesday, May 11, 1897
Incident to Death Duration:
Same day
Incident Location:
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway yards, South Bend
Incident County:
St. Joseph
Incident Township:
Portage
Weapon Used:
.44-caliber handgun
Suspect Disposition:
Acquitted
Burial Place:
City Cemetery, South Bend
Patrolman Oscar Christensen was shot and killed while investigating vandalism in the rail yards on the city's west side.
As a Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway detective was arresting some hobos, several shots were fired. When Patrolman Christensen approached, he was commanded by the railroad detective to halt and after failing to do so, he was struck by a bullet fired from the railroad detective's revolver and died a short time later.
The 36-year-old railroad detective was charged with murder but after three trials in a change of venue to LaPorte County, he was later acquitted of manslaughter by a jury.
Patrolman Christensen was survived by his wife.
Historical Note • This line of duty death incident is one of four in which the offender was a law enforcement officer. |
South Bend Police Department
Patrolman Christensen