The Cleveland Police Museum is honored to tell the stories of our Fallen Officers on the anniversary of their End of Watch.
Appointed in May, 1912, Patrolman Albert Miller was assigned to the 3rd Precinct. In the early morning hours of Sunday, November 30, 1913, Miller slept in his bed while two doors away, his neighbor Joseph Maleck was hosting a party. A large group demanding entrance to the party became threatening and Miller was called from his sleep to help.
The drowsy and half-dressed policeman stepped from his door and into the street. His appearance drew jeers from the mob, who ignored his to disperse. The crowd rushed Miller and, while his wife Ida watched, the crowd beat and kicked him. While he tried to regain his feet, a man struck him with a fence picket. Seeing the policeman motionless on the ground, his assailants ran away. Party guests and neighbors came out and assisted Miller into his house. A police emergency vehicle transported him to St. Alexis Hospital. Surgeons operated on Miller’s fractured skull, but he died as a result of his injuries several days later. Services were held at his residence and 2:00 pm at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Burial was at Harvard Grove Cemetery.
After Patrolman Miller’s death, eight were charged of murder. Three of these, Rudolph Neca, Rudolph Rubicek and Yaro Kulisek were convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to the Ohio State Reformatory.
