Downtown Anaheim in Orange County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

In Memory of Marshal Charles F. Lehman

Killed in the Line of Duty

— July 23rd, 1872 —

In Memory of Marshal Charles F. Lehman Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Liam Williams, October 16, 2026

1. In Memory of Marshal Charles F. Lehman Marker

Inscription. Near this point on July 21, 1872, Marshal Lehman was called to handle a disturbance at the rear of the Anaheim Brewery. As Marshal Lehman arrived on the scene, he was caught in the gunfire between the two shooters. On July 23, 1872, Marshal Lehman died at the age of 44, becoming the 1st Anaheim law enforcement officer to die in the line of duty.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Law Enforcement. A significant historical date for this entry is July 23, 1872.

Location. 33° 50.089′ N, 117° 54.832′ W. Marker is in Anaheim, California, in Orange County. It is in Downtown Anaheim. It is at the intersection of South Anaheim Boulevard and Lehman Way, on the left when traveling north on South Anaheim Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 151 S Anaheim Blvd, Anaheim CA 92805, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Peninsular Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the

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Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Old Anaheim Library (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Angell House (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Ingram Apartments (approx. 0.2 miles away); Helena Modjeska (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Beck House (approx. 0.4 miles away); Boysen Cactus Garden (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Kroeger-Melrose District (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Louden House (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Anaheim.

Also see . . . Street to be renamed after Anaheim’s first police officer killed in the line of duty.

Excerpt: "Card games usually don’t end in death – but one did for Charles Lehman, the first Anaheim police officer killed in the line of duty in 1872.

This year being Anaheim’s 150th anniversary, the Anaheim Police Department has requested the city rename Oak Street to Lehman Way in honor of the fallen officer.

Lehman was elected as city marshal in May 1872. Weeks later, on July 21, he
Photographed by Liam Williams, October 16, 2026

2. In Memory of Marshal Charles F. Lehman Marker
responded to a dispute over a card game between a civilian and an off-duty constable at the Anaheim Brewery – which at the time backed up to Oak Street.

Guns were pulled and Lehman was hit in the crossfire. He died two days later at the age of 44.

'The renaming is part of us reflecting on and preserving the history of the city,' Anaheim city spokesman, Mike Lyster, said."

(Submitted on October 17, 2026, by Liam Williams of Irvine, California.)

Lehman Way street sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Liam Williams, October 16, 2026

3. Lehman Way street sign

Memorial street sign at the corner of Anaheim Blvd and Lehman Way

Credits. This page was last revised on November 3, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2026, by Liam Williams of Irvine, California. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 17, 2026, by Liam Williams of Irvine, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.