Albert Edward Matthies, a 27-year-old police officer from Arcadia, California, tragically lost his life on July 19, 1927. Officer Matthies was conducting a routine check on a vehicle parked on a side street when he was fatally shot. As he approached the car to speak with the driver, one of the passengers opened fire, resulting in his immediate death. This incident occurred near the intersection of Northview and Foothill in north Arcadia, shortly before midnight on July 18, 1927.
Matthies, a World War I veteran, had been serving with the Arcadia Police Department for just one year at the time of his death.
The investigation that followed revealed that the three suspects in the vehicle had stolen it and were planning to rob a business when Officer Matthies approached them. The suspects, aged 18, 18, and 19, were apprehended in Los Angeles two weeks later. All three were convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. The shooter, who was 18 years old, was initially sent to Folsom Prison and later transferred to San Quentin. He was paroled on May 1, 1944. The other two suspects, who turned state's evidence, were also sent to San Quentin and were paroled on September 24, 1940.
Officer Matthies' death marked a significant and somber moment in the history of the Arcadia Police Department, as he was the only officer from the department to be killed in the line of duty. His sacrifice is remembered and honored by the community and his fellow officers. The legal proceedings following his death ensured that the perpetrators were brought to justice, highlighting the seriousness with which such crimes were treated even in the early 20th century.
