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Incident
While working his traffic assignment, thirty-year veteran Officer Jerry Haaf decided to take a coffee break. He went to the Pizza Shack, which was a favorite south-side restaurant that police officers had frequented for many years. Officer Haaf was seated in the restaurant with several other people. As he read the newspaper, two assailants from the street gang, “Vice Lords,“ came from behind and fired several bullets into his back. The two murderers ran from the restaurant as Officer Haaf lay on the floor, mortally wounded, calling for help on his portable radio. Another patron who had been sitting at the same table was wounded at the same time Officer Haaf was executed. After the murderers fled, a retired Minneapolis officer and other patrons went to Officer Haaf’s aid. Moments later, police officers arrived and started administering first aid. Officer Haaf was taken to the County Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. A multi-agency investigation into the murder of Officer Jerry Haaf was started. After months of work and hundreds of pages of statements and interviews, the killers were convicted and sent to prison. One subject was sentenced to life, and three others were sentenced to 30 years. Officer Haaf was a United States Air Force veteran who had served with the Minneapolis Police Department for 30 years and was a few months from retirement.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons.
In Our Keeping
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- 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. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. Jerome is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Haaf gave the Minneapolis Police Department 30 years.
Thank you for your service to the Minneapolis community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Jerome Victor Haaf served in the U.S. Air Force (1956â1960) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Minneapolis Police Department has lost 50 officers; 32 of them killed feloniously.
Jerome is one of 173 officers killed feloniously in MN, 59% of the 293 remembered there.
Jerome is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Jerome 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 1992, 1 officer at Minneapolis Police Department was killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 28 years on record. The heaviest was 1919, with 2.
In 1992, 1 officer in MN was killed feloniously, the 43rd heaviest of 93 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 11.
In 1992, 93 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 59th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1992, 97 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 66th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Jerome was 53. 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. Jerome had served 30 years; the middle length of service was 8.5 years.
Jerome was 53. Of the 166 killed feloniously in MN whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 49; the middle age was 41. Jerome had served 30 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Jerome was 53. 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. Jerome had served 30 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Jerome was 53. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Jerome had served 30 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
September holds 9.4% of these deaths at Minneapolis Police Department; August holds the most, 21.9%. Fridays: 15.6%.
September holds 10.4% of these deaths in MN; August holds the most, 16.8%. Fridays: 17.3%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
September holds 8.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 64% of all 50 deaths at Minneapolis Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 50% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 59% of all 293 deaths in MN, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 23.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Minneapolis Police Department has 50 officers remembered here, Jerome 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
Jerome Victor Haaf served in the U.S. Air Force (1956–1960) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Jerome Victor Haaf’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
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.
