Officer Robert Laughlin

End of Watch : July 28, 1884

OFFICER ROBERT LAUGHLIN
Minneapolis PD
Died July 28, 1884

On July 26 at 3:15 p.m. Officer Robert Laughlin responded to a call that several men were causing a disturbance in front of Anthony Kelly and Company's Wholesale Grocery at Washington Avenue North. Officer Laughlin confronted three young men and told them to consider themselves under arrest. One suspect, Martin Gorman, responded that no one was going to arrest him. Although the three men then attacked the officer, Laughlin was able to blow his whistle to summon help. A "special policeman" responded and was able to capture Gorman. The other two fled and Laughlin pursued them up Washington Avenue to First Avenue North. As Laughlin came around the corner, he saw the suspects had reached the barn of the Windsor Hotel. He fired at one of them and one of the suspects, Tony Cantieny, pulled a revolver and shot Laughlin, hitting him in the abdomen. Laughlin staggered into the hotel and then was taken to his home. Other officers continued to chase the two who were soon captured.

Since enraged citizens had vowed to avenge the officers' assault, the prisoners were moved to the county jail where officers were ordered to protect them with muskets and bayonets. By midnight, 5,000 people had gathered at the jail shouting, "hang him" and "break the doors." Several rocks were also hurled at officers with one hitting Chief West in the head. At one point, the citizens got a large beam and used it as a battering ram to break down the door. As they broke down the second door however, they were met by the officers standing guard with bayonets. Realizing it wasn't worth being shot over, the citizens decided to let the courts handle the men. By morning the crowd had dispersed.

Officer Laughlin, who had just been appointed a police officer on May 5th, 1984, died two days later at 3:15 p.m. He was 36 years old and survived by his wife of eleven years. His funeral was held at 9:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 30th at the Church of Immaculate Conception.

The suspects, Cantieny, Gorman and James Parker, were all charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. All pled not guilty and bond was set at $800. (Cantieny and Parker had previously spent time in Stillwater Penitentiary).

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

Lewis Joachim

Hans Hanson