Remembering officers who have died in Februaries past…. we have their stories from the oldest fatality, Detective William Hulligan, d. February 8, 1887, to the most recent, Police Officer Jonathan Bastock, who died in 2011.
Detective William Hulligan, d. February 8, 1887
It was 1887, Cleveland was growing by leaps and bounds, and crime was on the rise. To make matters worse, the “Blinky Morgan Gang” had arrived in town, making their presence known through a series of burglaries and safe jobs. One of the last and largest efforts committed by the gang was a burglary at the Benedict and Ruedy Fur Store at Superior Avenue and Seneca Street (now West 3rd Street). Six thousand dollars’ worth of sealskin pelts were stolen. The pelts found their way to Pittsburgh as did Mat Kennedy, alias Kid McMunn, a member of the gang. The Kid was arrested and was waiting to be transported back to Cleveland for questioning…
Patrolman Albert Albert Block, d. February 11, 1921
On November 11, 1912, Albert H. Block was appointed to the Cleveland Police Department. One cold Thursday night, Patrolman Block and Patrolman Callan, both of the vice squad, were investigating a gambling in progress complaint at a club on E. 6th and St. Clair. Officer Callan entered the premises while Officer Block climbed a ladder to look through a second story newspaper covered window at the front of the building. When a search was completed, no law violations were found…
Agent Carl Metta, d. February 19, 1923
Federal Prohibition Agents – “revenuers” – came into prominence in 1919 with the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution and the Volstead Prohibition Enforcement Act. They were commonly referred to as “Dry Agents” and were the bane of bootleggers and all who would partake in the manufacture, distribution and sale of illegal liquor during this period of United States history…
Patrolman Peter Fromm, d. February 13, 1925
On November 30, 1923, Patrolman Fromm was shot and seriously wounded at 12:05 a.m. at the corner of Central Avenue & E. 30th Street. Officer Fromm later died on February 13, 1925, from complications due to his wounds…
Patrolman Henry A. Richter, d. February 27, 1925
The way Patrolman Henry Richter met his death on February 26, 1925, was reminiscent of tales of the old west where two men stood toe-to-toe and emptied their guns until one or both fell…
Patrolman John F. Saxton, d. February 15, 1926
On March 7, 1923, Miss Pauline Benson and a male friend were on their way to the Union Passenger Station when they were followed and stopped by a gang who stole their car. In the car, Miss Benson had a trunk case of clothing which the gang discovered and broke open. The thieves stole some of her clothes then discarded the trunk on the yard of her rooming house…
Patrolman Norman Carl Reker, d. February 21, 1948
Mrs. Metta Burg, a resident in one-half of a duplex called police after hearing a man threatening her next door neighbors and demanding jewels and diamonds…
Chief Lester G. Peterman, d. February 10, 1964
No one will ever know whether Chief Peterman was ill when he responded to an emergency call. One thing is certain, he performed his mission. The Chief took a tank of oxygen and applied a face mask to a male resident on Cannon Road, Bentleyville. The man had been stricken with a heart attack. The Chief restored the man to consciousness. He then walked into the kitchen and told the man’s wife, “I think I’m going to black out,” and slumped to the floor…
Deputy James M. Salvino, d. February 17, 2001
On February 16, 2001 Deputy Salvino and his partner Deputy David W. Miller #211 were assigned to travel to Lima, Ohio to drop off a prisoner at the Lima Correctional Institution and pick up another and return that prisoner to the Cuyahoga County Jail in Cleveland…
Police Officer Jonathan Bastock, d. February 5, 2011
Officer Jonathan Bastock passed away from complications of an on-duty injury he sustained one month earlier…
