Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Oscar Thorsen was shot and killed by a mentally disturbed man holed up in a hotel. Officers were attempting to arrest the man on a civil disturbance charge. The suspect, an escapee from an insane asylum, was apprehended a few days later. When captured, it was discovered that he was suffering from sunstroke. He was admitted to a hospital, where he died on July 11, 1936.
Survivors
Deputy Thorsen was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-ND-9CE54D79- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Thorsen served with the Bottineau County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Bottineau community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Thorsen.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Aslak O. Thorsen is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In ND, 39 of 61 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Aslak O. Thorsen's cause is highlighted.
How Aslak O. Thorsen Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Aslak O. Thorsen is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Aslak O. Thorsen was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Bottineau County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.