Killed in the Line of Duty 105 Years Ago Today

December 14, 2012 — The Salt Lake City Police Department today remembers the loss of one its own: Officer Charles S. Ford, killed in the line of duty December 14, 1907.

Officer Ford was shot and killed following the armed robbery of a Salt Lake City bar. At approximately 2:30 a.m., he was working his third shift after returning to law enforcement from a 16-year absence.

Ford, 51, was standing on the northeast corner of 600 South and 200 West when two armed robbers fleeing the scene of a robbery in the Albany Hotel bar across the street shot him. Officer Ford returned fire without effect. He died 12 hours later at St. Mark’s Hospital.

The two robbers managed to flee Utah. One was arrested in Portland a month later. The second was shot to death by Seattle officers in May 1908. The first robber was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. For health reasons, his sentence was terminated in 1918. He died several months later.

Married and the father of two grown daughters, Officer Ford is buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Salt Lake City.

If you would like to support the Police Department’s History Project, please email policehistory@slcgov.com or call (801) 799-3340. To learn more about our Fallen Officers, visit the SLCPD Fallen Officers Web page.

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