The Cleveland Police Museum is honored to tell the stories of our Fallen Officers on the anniversary of their End of Watch.
Edward W. Murray, a thirty-two year veteran of the police department at the time of his death, was appointed a Patrolman on August 16, 1943.
He was off duty at 11:45 p.m., July 3, 1975, when he stopped at the Spaghetti Inn at 6922 Wade Park to visit the owner, Gilbert Kelley. Murray had just arrived when the side door opened and the two Kaiser brothers entered with weapons drawn announcing a stick up. Murray exchanged shots with the robbers, staggered towards the front door and dropped dead. The robbery was aborted with one brother assisting the other to their car.
A short time later Ernest Kaiser was found in the parking lot of Mt. Sinai Hospital by an attendant. He was pronounced dead at 2:30 a.m. on July 3, 1975, killed by Patrolman Murray’s gunshots. Several hours later, Ernest’s brother, Larry was arrested while at his girlfriend’s home on W. 6th Place. On October 23, 1975, Larry Kaiser was found guilty of aggravated murder and robbery and was sentenced to death.
Officer Murray was survived by his wife Lavada. Services were held at Antioch Baptist Church and he was laid to rest in Lake View Cemetery.
