Incident
Patrolman Canfield and his partner had stopped three suspects who were driving a stolen vehicle and were also wanted for robbery and kidnapping. Patrolman Canfield was shot and run over by the suspects’ vehicle and dragged nearly 30 feet. He died 42 years later from his injuries. The County Medical Examiner listed the cause of death as “Homicide . . . Multiple complications of gunshot wound and blunt force injuries (42 year interval).” His partner, Officer Robert Fossum, was shot in the head and died at the scene.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtnhx1naecbe7d131d44y- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Ward is one person.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Canfield gave the Minneapolis Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Minneapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Canfield.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Ward Lee Canfield served in the U.S. Army (1942â1945) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Minneapolis Police Department has lost 50 officers; 32 of them killed feloniously.
Ward is one of 173 officers killed feloniously in MN, 59% of the 293 remembered there.
Ward is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Ward is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2000, 1 officer at Minneapolis Police Department was killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 28 years on record. The heaviest was 1919, with 2.
In 2000, 1 officer in MN was killed feloniously, the 43rd heaviest of 93 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 11.
In 2000, 71 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 100th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 2000, 73 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 102nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Ward was 78. Of the 32 killed feloniously at Minneapolis Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 36 and 50; the middle age was 40.5. Ward had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 8.5 years.
Ward was 78. Of the 166 killed feloniously in MN whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 49; the middle age was 41. Ward had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Ward was 78. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Ward had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Ward was 78. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Ward had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 6.3% of these deaths at Minneapolis Police Department; August holds the most, 21.9%. Thursdays: 9.4%.
March holds 2.9% of these deaths in MN; August holds the most, 16.8%. Thursdays: 14.5%.
March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
March holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 64% of all 50 deaths at Minneapolis Police Department, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 59% of all 293 deaths in MN, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause.
His people
Minneapolis Police Department has 50 officers remembered here, Ward among them.
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Robert Laughlin Jul 28, 1884
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Charles C. Channels May 27, 1906
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Joseph Ollinger
Jul 15, 1911
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William Joseph Lydon
Nov 25, 1913
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George B. Anderson
Nov 28, 1913
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Otto G. Ostby
May 19, 1915
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Nels C. Anderson
May 31, 1916
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George Connery
Apr 24, 1917
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James A. Weare
Feb 7, 1919
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George Woessner
Jun 24, 1919
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John Francis Young
Jul 13, 1919
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Frank S. Hallett
Aug 25, 1920
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Emil Engstrom
Aug 15, 1923
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Michael J. Lawrence
Dec 30, 1925
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Albert Anderson
Feb 2, 1928
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Clayton J. Seawell
May 4, 1929
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Harry E. Parker
Dec 24, 1930
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Harry McGraw
Feb 1, 1931
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Clayton Olson
Aug 9, 1931
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Harold Hagen
Aug 3, 1932
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Ira Leon Evans
Dec 16, 1932
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Leo R. Gorski
Dec 18, 1932
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John W. Thomas Aug 5, 1933
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Peter Erath May 26, 1934
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Ben J. Lehman
May 3, 1936
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Georgianna Sharrot
Jun 14, 1937
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James H. Trepanier
Sep 20, 1938
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John B. Gearty
Jul 10, 1939
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Adolpf G. Karpinsky
May 22, 1941
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Harold O. Olson
Aug 9, 1941
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John W. O'Neil
Jun 7, 1944
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Donald T. McHale
Mar 25, 1951
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Robert H. Fossum
Aug 17, 1957
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Leo M. Bessner
May 12, 1958
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William F. Herkal
May 11, 1959
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Andrew Ferman Sharp
Aug 17, 1963
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James E. Hendricks
Dec 15, 1963
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Lloyd Ellsworth Reed
Aug 6, 1965
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Richard L. Bergquist
Apr 7, 1969
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Joseph G. Pudlick
Feb 4, 1972
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Inno H. Suek
Sep 30, 1972
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George Anthony Partridge Jr.
May 26, 1976
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Richard Paul Miller, Sr.
Aug 25, 1981
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David Ward Mack
Nov 2, 1986
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Jerome Victor Haaf
Sep 25, 1992
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Paul K. Moen
Jul 1, 1995
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Ward Lee Canfield
Mar 2, 2000
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Melissa Jayne Schmidt
Aug 1, 2002
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David Richard Loeffler
May 29, 2009
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Jamal Mitchell
May 30, 2024
Where
Military Service
Ward Lee Canfield served in the U.S. Army (1942–1945) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Ward Lee Canfield’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 56-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
49 officers from Minneapolis Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















