Sergeant Amer M. Keller
Dayton Police Department  
January 7, 1897

On January 6th, 1897, Dayton Police Sergeant Amer M. Keller was assisting fellow first responders when he suffered critical injuries from an equipment failure. 

He had volunteered to stay on after his shift had ended, and was helping conduct crowd control in icy conditions at the scene of a fire. He was positioned near a ladder that was bearing the weight of two firemen battling the blaze from near its top. But then, without any warning, the base of the heavy 30-foot ladder slipped on the icy sidewalk and the apparatus literally snapped in two. That’s when half of it and both men came crashing down on Sergeant Keller.

Amer died of his injuries the next day, on January 7th, 1897. Although injured, both firemen survived.

Sergeant Keller was 48 years old at the time of his death, and had served with the Dayton Police Department for 21 years. He was survived by his wife, three sons, father, two sisters, and brother.

Amer was known as a brave, conscientious, discreet and efficient officer, who during his long years of service had held many positions of authority. He was an active member of his church, and prior to joining the force had worked as a forester before becoming a painter and wallpaper hanger. The University of Dayton’s Law School building, Keller Hall, was named after his grandson.