Charles Albert Washburn
Agency patch
Constable

Charles Albert Washburn

Felonious
End of Watch October 29, 1884
Age 35
The Vigil Panel 8 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Constable Charles Washburn succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained 10 days earlier as he and his deputy attempted to arrest a man for domestic assault. Despite being wounded, Constable Washburn was able to return fire and wounded the suspect.

The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. He was granted a new trial, convicted of second degree manslaughter and sentenced to 5 years hard labor.

Constable Washburn was survived by his wife.

Survivors

Constable Washburn was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MN-4BE1DFE1
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

142 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Constable Washburn served with the Wright County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Buffalo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Location Buffalo, MN
Platform Identity wcso.wright.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 29, 1884
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun
Offender Sentenced to 5 years

Constable Charles Albert Washburn is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In MN, 173 of 293 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59% of this state's fallen. That is 4.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Wright County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Wright County Sheriff's Office
2
of 4 officers
50% Felonious
MN — Statewide
173
of 293 officers
59% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Albert Washburn's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Charles Albert Washburn Compares

Age at End of Watch
35
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Albert Washburn is highlighted in Oct.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Albert Washburn was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518