On May 23, 1929, Officer Wayne Manley Barry, 29, with four years on the force, and Officer Ed Patrick were conducting a stakeout on Merrill Avenue (now Arlington Avenue North), investigating a moonshine operation. During the surveillance, a burglar broke into the nearby home of Herman Merrill, an 80-year-old attorney, and shot him; Merrill later died. Hearing the gunfire, the two officers pursued the burglar on foot through an alley behind 1002 3rd Avenue North.
As they rounded a corner, the man fired twice — the second shot struck Officer Barry in the chest, piercing his heart. Officer Patrick returned fire and killed the suspect. Officer Barry was the third St. Petersburg police officer killed in the line of duty. He is survived by his wife, Gladys; his daughter, June; and his three young sons: Wayne, Robert, and Roger.
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