Patrolman Michael B. Beuerlein

Parma Police Department

End of Watch: May 20, 1926
Age: 26

It was Sunday, May 16, a cool evening in the spring of 1926. Twenty-six year old motorcycle patrolman Michael Beuerlein patrolled the village of Parma on his Harley Davidson motorcycle as the sun began to set over Lake Erie. Officer Beuerlein's thoughts were not entirely devoted to his job but skipped occasionally to thoughts of his upcoming marriage on June 15 to sweetheart, Edna Tiedjan, daughter of Parma's Justice of the Peace.

At 7:30 p.m., a call came to Beuerlein of a riot, a free-for-all fight reported in progress on Commonwealth Avenue in the residential district. Officer Beuerlein, in answer to the call, sped his motorcycle north on State Road, where fate would determine that Beuerlein would become the first Parma Peace Officer to die in the line of duty. As Beuerlein's motorcycle was approaching the intersection of Wick Road (now Grantwood Drive), a Ford Coupe, driven by Fred Sattler and occupied by three passengers, was approaching the intersection from the opposite direction. Sattler, intending to enter Wick Road, began his left turn and his automobile lumbered across the streetcar tracks laid between the north and south roadways, not yet aware of Beuerlein's motorcycle approaching with siren wailing and emergency lights flashing.

As Sattler's automobile left the tracks and entered Beuerlein's path, Sattler, upon seeing the speeding cycle upon him, abruptly stopped his vehicle, intending for the officer to pass in front of him. Instead, Officer Beuerlein's motorcycle crashed into the Ford broadside to the astonishment of its occupants who escaped the crash unhurt.

The impact of the crash broke Beuerlein's leg as he was thrown from his motorcycle. He was hurled twenty feet and suffered a fractured skull as he struck the roadway. Beuerlein was taken to Deaconess Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and passed away on May 20, 1926. Officer Beuerlein was laid to rest in his home town of Nashville, Tennessee.

Those involved in the riot, Fred Stauch, twenty eight, and John Moutauski, thirty-five, were charged with creating the disturbance which led to Beuerlein's death. Both were hospitalized as a result of the riot with Stauch receiving a fractured skull.

Deputy Town Marshal Clinton Wolf

Parma Police Department

End of Watch: June 28, 1926
Age: 34

The year 1926 was a somber one for the Village of Parma, Ohio, as its second peace officer was killed in the line of duty that year while serving its citizens.

On June 28, 1926, at 6:30 pm, Mrs. Otto Kliment called the Parma Town Hall at Ridge and Ridgewood Drives stating her husband was drunk, breaking furniture, and abusing her at their home on Theota Avenue. Deputy Wolf was on duty at the time and responded to the call. Wolf was new, just appointed six weeks prior and working his day off for a fellow officer. Wolf parked his police car in front of Kliment's home. The Deputy walked across the yard and was approaching the front door when Otto Kliment fired through the wall from inside, striking Deputy Wolf in the heart and mortally wounding him.

Kliment's neighbor, Melvin Borhrer heard the gunshot and ran to help the downed officer. Kliment came out of his house, and he and Mr. Borhrer placed Wolf in an automobile. Borhrer rushed him to Deaconess Hospital, where the deputy was pronounced dead.


_{Chief Charles Tesar-
1st Chief of the Parma Police Department}

Mr. Borhrer called the police at which time Marshal Charles Tesar and Constable William Lightner hurried to the scene where they learned of Deputy Wolf's fate. Officers learned Kliment armed himself with a .38 caliber Colt revolver and a belt of cartridges and fled a short distance to Holy Name Cemetery at West 54th and Theota Avenue.

Constable Lightner followed Kilment's escape route while Marshal Tesar circled ahead to cut off Kliment. In searching, Tesar heard four shots ring out and luckily, the bullet struck a tree two inches from Tesar's head. Tesar called for Kliment to surrender, Kliment recognized Tesar's voice, responded, "All right, Charlie." and came forward with his hands up and pistol raised in the air. Kliment told Tesar, "I'm sorry I shot at you, Charlie, for had I known it was you, I would not have shot."

Kliment was taken to the Town Hall where he admitted the slaying, saying he was drunk and didn't know what he was doing. He was indicted for first degree murder. Under questioning by Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Selmo Glenn, Kliment declared he did not remember the shooting. Kliment was acquitted of the murder of Deputy Marshal Wolf. He was additionally charged with shooting with intent to wound both Marshal Tesar and Constable Lightner. He was found not guilty on both charges.

Deputy Marshal Clinton Wolf was laid to rest in Brooklyn Cemetery. He left behind his beloved wife Ester. Clinton Wolf's name is inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. Panel 59, E -18.