Officer Joseph Ollinger

End of Watch : July 15, 1911

OFFICER JOSEPH OLLINGER
Minneapolis PD
Died July 15, 1911

Fred A. Briggs, a well known cigar broker, and Jerry McCarthy (aka Nolan), an escaped convict from Stillwater Penitentiary, had decided to rob the Central State Bank at 2401 Central Avenue SE. Not knowing that Joseph Ollinger was a Minneapolis police officer, Briggs introduced him to McCarthy and the two asked Ollinger to assist them with the bank robbery. Ollinger reported the incident to his supervisor, but after discovering "Nolan" was actually an escapee from Stillwater, he decided to try to apprehend him single handedly.

Ollinger followed McCarthy to a drugstore at 25th and Central Avenue where he attempted to arrest the would-be bank robber, but McCarthy resisted. Ollinger hit McCarthy with the butt of his revolver and broke the suspect's nose. The two then exchanged shots. McCarthy shot six times and hit Ollinger, who was on top of him, five times in the body, once in the neck. Ollinger returned fire at the same time, hitting McCarthy once, killing him instantly. Ollinger died at the hospital.

The next day, after hearing about the shooting, Briggs walked into police headquarters and surrendered. He was arrested and immediately was given a hearing. Another man, A.H. Denson, poolroom proprietor, also confessed to being involved and provided police with names of the others who were involved.

It was discovered that McCarthy, 33, had a lengthy criminal background. His real name was Jerry Harrison, but he also went by the aliases of Nolan and Tom Match. He had escaped Stillwater Penitentiary with Peter Juhl, who police were also trying to locate. They believed the two had parted ways several weeks before the shooting. McCarthy was wanted in Iowa for trying to blow up the county treasury office. He had escaped from Fort Madison Penitentiary three years prior to Ollinger's death and in October, 1909, he was involved in a gunfight with Minneapolis Officer Jonas Johannsen and was sent to Stillwater for 10 years for first degree assault. He escaped on March 4th, 1911, with Juhl. On March 12, Minneapolis Police Officer Vermitte was shot and wounded. Both Juhl and Mccarthy were thought to be involved.

According to Ollinger's sister-in-law, Ollinger had been nervous all day and had told her that he was "going to get that fellow tonight if I come home in a box." She said that he did not sleep the night before and friends said he shook their hands as if he was bidding them all goodbye.

Officer Ollinger was 52 years old. He was hired by the department on January 7th, 1901, and was survived by his wife and 14-year-old son. His funeral was held on July 18 at St. Clement's Church, 25th Avenue and Quincy Street at 9:00 a.m. The businesses on his beat all closed from 9:30-10:00 in honor of the officer. He was buried at St. Anthony's Cemetery.

Sourced from: The book "We Will Remember"
With permission from Lisa Lovering, Author and Board of Director
MN Law Enforcement Memorial Association
L.E.M.A. 2009

Harry A Chesmore

Frank Fraser