On June 14, 1936 at 4:10 pm, Officer Anthony Retkowski was killed in a motorcycle accident while providing a police escort for school children publicing a school picnic at St. Englebert's. As he rushed ahead to control oncoming traffic his motorcycle struck a depression in the street and he was thrown over the handlebars into a concrete utility pole at the intersection of Harney and Thrush fracturing his skull among other injuries.

Officer Retkowski had served with the agency for 2 years, since 1934. He was survived by his wife, Mary.