The Cleveland Police Museum is honored to tell the stories of our Fallen Officers on the anniversary of their End of Watch.
George Effinger was appointed to the Cleveland Police Department on April 7, 1927 and assigned to the 4th District.
On September 13, 1928, Patrolman Effinger, along with Patrolman Wieczorek and three other officers, responded to a call that Paul Jawarski, a known and wanted criminal, was at a restaurant located at 6518 Fleet Avenue. The leader of Pittsburgh’s notorious Flathead Gang had come to Cleveland armed with machine guns and other weapons.
The five officers went to the restaurant and, although they had not drawn their guns, were greeted by gunfire from Jaworski. Effinger was shot in the lung. In spite of his serious wounds, Effinger led the chase that ultimately ended in the arrest of Paul Jawarski, one of the shooters. His partner, Patrolman Wieczorek was shot four times and died shortly after the incident.
Patrolman Effinger succumbed to his wounds and died on 03/23/1933. He was survived by his wife Rose and children George P, Florence R. and Richard W. Services were held at Nosek & Sons Funeral Home and Officer Effinger was laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery.
