LA CROSSE, Wis. (WXOW) — The La Crosse Police Department is honoring Officer T.P. “Perry” Gates, who was shot and killed by armed robbery suspects at the intersection of Third and King streets on this day in 1900.
According to an LCPD social media post, this story is based on extensive research completed by retired LCPD Lt. Daniel J. Marcou and summarized based on his historical writings.
Gates was born in La Crosse on Apr. 7, 1863, and was sworn in as a member of the department on Sept. 13, 1897. Just before 1 a.m. on the day he died, the department received information from authorities in La Crescent, Minnesota, that a robbery had occurred and three armed suspects were possibly heading toward La Crosse.
The three men had reportedly entered a railroad boxcar and robbed the men inside at gunpoint. One of the victims, Alfred Carlson, refused to give up his money and was brutally whipped by one of the robbers who took $9 from him.
The robbers then fled on foot, and the incident was reported to Minnesota authorities. Upon receiving the bulletin about the crime and suspects, Gates suggested that on-duty officers search the area around the Mississippi River Wagon Bridge.
Gates and Officer Schubert hitched up the police patrol horse and buggy, while Officers Jacques and Horschak headed down to the area on foot. When Gates and Schubert reached the wagon bridge, the tollmaster advised them that three men had just left the bridge about 10 minutes earlier.
Schubert and Gates then began to search the area for the suspects and spotted three men matching the description at the intersection of Third and King streets. Gates stopped the buggy and jumped out, drew his weapon and ordered the three men to halt.
According to Schubert, the men who were standing three abreast stopped. One then yelled something to the effect, “throw up!” and all three drew handguns and began firing at Gates.
The shots scared the horses and they bolted and ran, carrying Schubert away from the scene, with the three men firing at him at this time. By the time Schubert could stop the horses and return to his partner, Gates was lying dead in the street.
He had fired his weapon but was struck by one bullet in the abdomen and one in the right arm. Gates died at the age of 37 in the service of the city of La Crosse.
His death orphaned his three children. Gates was loved by his family, respected by his fellow officers and sorely missed by all in death.