Police Officer Bernard C. Mengel

End of Watch: Sat, Apr 22nd, 1922

Date of Incident: Sat, Apr 22nd, 1922

Cause of Death: Gunfire (Intentional)

Service Time: 21 years

Age: 52

Survivors

His wife Lillie

Incident

Officer Mengel and Officer Michael O'Connor were shot and killed while responding to a robbery on South Broadway. The two officers and a third officer were guarding money at a Trust Company across the street from a bank. A man ran in and notified the officers the bank was being robbed. As the three officers ran across the street the suspects exited and a shootout erupted in which Officer O'Connor and Officer Mengel were both struck in the head and killed.

The three suspects fled the scene but were all apprehended. Two of the suspects were hanged at the St. Louis City Jail on July 18, 1924.

Information obtained from the Officer Down Memorial Page.