Glenn L. Litzenberg
1887-1918
Glenn moved from Iowa to Portland around 1905 when he was 18. His father had been a blacksmith and died when Glenn was seven, and his mother moved with her children to join her eldest son in Portland.
Glenn worked as a clerk, laborer, longshoreman and messenger driver until he joined the Bureau in March of 1915.
“Litz” as he was called by fellow officers, started out on foot patrol working traffic and enforcing prohibition laws in and out of uniform. In early 1917 he played center on the Police Benefit and Athletic Association ice hockey septet. He joined the brand-new motorcycle squad in the fall of 1917.
The Incident
On April 20, 1918 Litzenberg was on motorcycle patrol, following about 50 yards behind his partner. He was approaching the intersection of East 7th and Beech when a passenger car pulled into the blind intersection. He collided with the left front of the vehicle and was thrown into the air, falling headfirst onto the pavement and dying within minutes.
Litzenberg was considered conscientious, thorough, popular , quiet and every inch an officer. His funeral was said to have been one of the largest in recent memory.
He was 31 and survived by his wife, mother and siblings.
Glenn worked as a clerk, laborer, longshoreman and messenger driver until he joined the Bureau in March of 1915.
“Litz” as he was called by fellow officers, started out on foot patrol working traffic and enforcing prohibition laws in and out of uniform. In early 1917 he played center on the Police Benefit and Athletic Association ice hockey septet. He joined the brand-new motorcycle squad in the fall of 1917.
The Incident
On April 20, 1918 Litzenberg was on motorcycle patrol, following about 50 yards behind his partner. He was approaching the intersection of East 7th and Beech when a passenger car pulled into the blind intersection. He collided with the left front of the vehicle and was thrown into the air, falling headfirst onto the pavement and dying within minutes.
Litzenberg was considered conscientious, thorough, popular , quiet and every inch an officer. His funeral was said to have been one of the largest in recent memory.
He was 31 and survived by his wife, mother and siblings.