Appointed February 15, 1923 – End of Watch September 20, 1938
At 4:00 am on February 23, 1928, Minneapolis Police Officers James H. Trepanier and Bernard Wynne responded to a call for help from one of Minneapolis mobster Kid Cann’s hangouts. The call came from The Cotton Club which was located at 716 6th Avenue North. A fight had broken out amongst patrons. Upon entering the club, Officers Trepanier and Wynne ordered several patrons to line up against a wall to be searched for weapons. A few seconds later, five men in a corner overturned a table, hid behind it and started shooting.
Both officers were shot but were able to return fire and gain control of the room. When back-up arrived, 30 persons, including Kid Cann, were arrested and taken to the Minneapolis City Jail.
Officers Trepanier and Wynne were taken immediately to General Hospital. Officer Trepanier had been hit several times and was paralyzed from the waist down. Officer Wynne was hit in the leg. Kid Cann was arrested for the shooting of both officers and the attempted murder of Officer Trepanier but was released due to insufficient evidence. It is generally now accepted that the shooter of Officer Trepanier was gangster Verne Miller.
Officer Trepanier spent the next year in the hospital where he was to slowly regain some of his health. The severity of his injures made it impossible for him to resume his policing duties. He took a course in watch and jewelry repair and opened a shop on Chicago Avenue where he worked until 1934 when the effects of his injuries became too much to bear and he went to live at the Veteran’s Hospital. Officer Trepanier continued to repair watches and jewelry from his hospital bed there.
Officer Trepanier was a veteran of World War One serving in the 151st Field Artillery, 42nd Division. He served on the Minneapolis Police Department for five years nearly always as a motorcycle patrolman. Officer Trepanier was a member of the Police and Firemen’s Post of the American Legion.
Officer Trepanier passed away at the age of 42. His funeral was attended by many members of the Minneapolis Police Department and he received a final tribute from the Honor Guard. His funeral services were held at the Swanson Funeral Home. He was buried at Sunset Memorial Cemetery.
Officer Trepanier was survived by his wife, Ruth, and their two daughters, Joyce and Marie. He was also survived by his father, two brothers and four sisters.
Photograph and material about the shooting of Officer Trepanier is taken from Killed in the Line of Duty by Sergeant Tony Miranda, 1998
Additional material is taken from Officer Trepanier’s obituary in the Minneapolis Tribune on September 20, 1938.