The Badge: Mason and Kisselbach

Constable's names added to National Memorial

The names of Constables Paul Kisselbach and William Mason will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial in Washington DC. The names will be formally dedicated on May 13, 2008, at the 20th Annual Candle Light Vigil during National Police Week.

For information about the Candle Light Vigil visit the NLEOM web site here.

Suspect Andrew Betts (Top Left)
Constable Paul Kisselbach (Top right)
Constable Frank Bauer (lower left)
Constable William Mason (Bottom Right)

End of Watch: Saturday, September 10, 1949

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Saturday, September 10, 1949
Weapon Used: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect Info: Andrew Betts, Apprehended

Constable Paul Kisselbach and Constable William Mason were shot after responding to a man with a gun call at a tavern (Nick's Country Club Inn) in the 4100 block of Trendley Avenue.
While investigating an unrelated stabbing in the area which occurred an hour earlier, the constables were called to the tavern at 03:30 hours where a man had been brandishing a gun. Upon their arrival, the suspect began shooting, striking all three constables with a .38 caliber revolver before fleeing.

The constables were transported to St. Mary's Hospital where Constable Kisselbach, who was shot in the head, succumbed to his wound. Constable Mason, who was shot in the abdomen, died of his wounds six days later. The third constable survived his injuries.

The suspect Andrew Betts, 29, was later apprehended, hiding, "up to his neck," in an outhouse...

The bouncer at the club recalled that Betts had brandished a gun and boasted that, "I feel like shooting up the whole place." Betts admitted the shooting, stating, "They said they were police, I got scared. So scared that I started shooting."

The coroner, Dr. C.C. Kane conducted tests on Betts' revolver and reported that the bullets from Kisselbach's body, "showed certain groves which match with other grooves in bullets fired from Betts' gun." Dr. Kane said, "there were no groves to match with bullets fired from Baur's gun."

The ballistics tests were described as routine, and were made to clear doubts as from which gun the fatal bullets were fired.

Constable Kisselbach had served as a constable in Centreville Township. He was survived by his wife.

Constable Mason had served as a constable in Centreville Township for eight years. He was survived by his wife.

Frank "Red" Baur was shot during the incident but recovered from his wounds.

Sheriff Justus knew all three men and is proud that they have been finally recognized. M/Sgt. Mason told me that William Mason was his father's cousin.

All of this information has been forwarded to the National Memorial in Washington D.C. so these officer's names can be engraved on the memorial.

Read the ODMP article

The St. Louis Post Dispatch

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Stl Post Page 2
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From the Globe Democrat

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Jule was the Widow of slain constable Paul Kisselbach

Jule B. Kisselbach nee Ramsey, 91, of Loveland, Colo., formerly of Fairview Heights, Ill., born July 18, 1916, in East St. Louis, Ill., died Thursday, April 17, 2008, at North Shore Health Care in Loveland, Colo. Mrs. Kisselbach was a former owner of Jule's Beauty Shop in East St. Louis, Ill., worked at Valleyview Dillards Department Store in Texas and sold Stanley Home Products in Illinois and Texas. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul J. Kisselbach; her parents, Lawrence W. and Lydia M., nee Stone, Ramsey. She is survived by her daughter, Carolyn (Charles) Foley of Fort Worth, Texas; her son, Paul L. (Sally) Kisselbach of Loveland, Colo.; her grandchildren, Paul D. Kisselbach, Linda (Dan) Wooten, Paul (Mary) Foley, Ruth Kisselbach and Kristin Olar and husband Jake Hood; great-grandchildren, Beth Wooten, Tobin Hood and Karlee Brunner. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association. Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, 2008, at Kurrus Funeral Home in Belleville, Ill. Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April, 24, 2008, at Kurrus Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Doug White officiating. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in Belleville, Ill.