Charles S. Mehlberg was a 25-year-old Milwaukee Police Department officer, on the force nearly four years after prior service as a police aide. His death followed an armed robbery at Alfred’s House of Bourbon late on December 22, 1981, which led to a violent confrontation that carried into December 23. A 19-year-old suspect, Robert Lee Collins, had entered the tavern, grabbed a woman and announced a robbery; he fired at a patron, then fled with about $200, several wallets and the woman’s purse.

Mehlberg and Officer John A. Machajewski pursued Collins on foot into an alley behind 210 West Brown Street, where Collins ambushed the officers. Both were shot; Machajewski was killed at the scene and Mehlberg was taken to Froedtert Hospital on life support but died at approximately 5 p.m. on December 23. Collins fled armed with two handguns, including Mehlberg’s .38-caliber service revolver, was captured after a roughly 45-minute standoff, and was held on high bail. Prosecutors announced intentions to charge him with first-degree murder in both deaths plus armed robbery. The shootings prompted an immediate and wide reaction across Milwaukee; Mehlberg received the department’s Medal of Honor and a Class A Citation posthumously.

If anyone knew Charles Mehlberg, his routines or the events around Alfred’s House of Bourbon that night, please share what is known.