The Cleveland Police Museum is honored to tell the stories of our Fallen Officers on the anniversaries of their End of Watch.
Herman B. Pahler was appointed a Patrolman on December 20, 1915 and assigned Badge Number 177.
On March 6, 1933, Herman Klink went on a rampage along W. 38th street, shooting at least eleven people with a 22 caliber, high-powered rifle. As Klink continued on his “manical foray,” a truck driver hailed Patrolman Herman Pahler, who was directing traffic in front of nearby St. Mary’s School.
Klink fired at Patrolman Pahler, hitting him in the abdomen, groin and leg. Bystander William Wingate dragged Officer Pahler to his car and rushed him to the hospital. Pahler passed away two days later despite the heroic efforts of the medical staff and numerous blood transfusions. Pahler was the fourth person to die in the rampage. Klink, who was later determined to have “persecution mania” and believed the government was spying on him, was shot and killed by Cleveland detectives one block away from where Pahler fell. Officer Herman Pahler was survived by his wife Sadie, five children, Katheryn, Norman, Donald, Carol Ann, and Robert and his mother. Services were held at St. Ignatius Church and he was interred at Calvary Cemetery.
