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Patrolman

Ira Leon Evans

Minneapolis Police Department — Minneapolis, MN

Felonious

End of Watch December 16, 1932

Age 39

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

The Vigil Panel 65 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Keepsakes Department 49

Incident

Patrolmen Ira Evans and Leo Gorski were shot and killed when they responded to a bank robbery in progress at Central and East Hennepin Avenues. As they exited their patrol car, two of the suspects opened fire on them with a shotgun and machine gun. Both officers were fatally wounded. The suspects escaped but were eventually apprehended. One of the shooters was also responsible for the murder of Marshal John Rose of the Kirksville, Missouri, Police Department on November 17, 1930. The suspect was sentenced to life in prison. In 1934 the suspect was believed to have gone insane and was transferred to a state hospital. Two years later he led an escape of 15 inmates and continued to rob banks. On July 8, 1936, he shot and killed Officer Cal Palmer, of the Enid, Oklahoma, Police Department, after getting drunk in a local bar. Patrolman Evans had been employed with the Minneapolis Police Department for eight years, and was survived by his wife. He is buried in Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Barker-Karpis Gang committed violent crimes throughout the American Midwest in the late 1920s and mid-1930s. Members and associates of the gang were responsible for the murders of more than ten law enforcement officers. Please click here to view all the law enforcement officers killed by the Barker-Karpis Gang.

Survivors

Patrolman Evans had been employed with the Minneapolis Police Department for eight years, and was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: NW-APW6-RYZH-S earlier record number BO-US-MN-F50C3B4E
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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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Evans gave the Minneapolis Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Minneapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Evans.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Minneapolis Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Minneapolis, Hennepin County, MN

Platform Identity mpd.hennepin.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 16, 1932

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Ira is one of 15,741 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.2% of the 27,543 remembered there.

33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1932, 210 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 8th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Ira was 39. Of the 14,215 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Ira had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.2% of all 27,543 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded