Captain Frederick William Sauer, Burlington Police Department, Iowa

Captain Frederick William Sauer

Burlington Police Department, Iowa

End of Watch Sunday, May 27, 1934

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Frederick William Sauer

Captain Frederick Sauer was shot and killed after he and another officer responded to a report of a burglary at a store at 0530 hours. Captain Sauer covered the front of the store as the other officer covered the rear. As the two burglars came out of the front of the store one opened fire with a shotgun and fatally wounded Captain Sauer.

Both suspects were eventually apprehended and charged with murder. Charges were dropped against one of the suspects. The other suspect was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to life in prison December 10, 1934. He was paroled in 1969. On May 7, 1970, he was arrested in Des moines, Iowa, and charged with the theft of 64 money orders from a Colorado Springs, Colorado, post office. Four months later he was convicted of mail theft and sentenced to five years in the federal penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas.

Bio

Age 39
Tour Not available
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Shotgun
Offender Paroled in 1969

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Capt. Sauer,
On today, the 90th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just for your Community but for our Country as well when you served with the U.S. Army as a member of the 77th “Statue of Liberty” Division in Europe fighting the Germans during World War I. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

BPA Mike Casey
United States Border Patrol(Retired)

May 27, 2024