Thomas J. Kronschnable

End of watch — Friday, December 15, 1916

Rank

Policeman

Serial number

Unknown

Division

Unknown

Location

206 W. 24th St.

Cause of death

Shot by a Robbery Suspect

Policeman Kronschnable was shot and killed while attempting to stop a speeding car. Policeman Kronschnable and another officer were sitting on their motorcycles when he observed the car speed by. Unbeknownst to Policeman Kronschnable the occupants had been involved in several felonies. As Policeman Kronschnable pulled alongside the car to tell the driver to stop a shot was fired from the vehicle and struck Policeman Kronschnable. The shooter fled to Mexico and was later apprehended in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for another murder. They tried to extradite him to California after the Pennsylvania authorities extracted a confession from him. After serving 20 years for the second murder, he was arrested 30 seconds after being freed from prison and finally extradited to California. He was tried and convicted for the murder of Policeman Kronschnable. The District Attorney asked for the death penalty, but he was sentenced to life in prison. Policeman Kronschnable was survived by his wife and a baby daughter.