David J. Shipley
Agency patch
Chief of Police

David J. Shipley

Faribault Police Department — Faribault, MN
Felonious
End of Watch January 8, 1883
Age 48
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
The Vigil Panel 7 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief of Police David Shipley succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained five days earlier when he was shot by a subject who had just purchased a gun and was threatening to kill his wife.

Chief Shipley was attempting to arrest the man when he was shot in the groin. The subject was arrested and charged with murder. He was convicted of forth degree manslaughter and was out of prison in less than three years.

Chief Shipley had served with the Faribault Police Department for two years and the Independence, Iowa Police Department before that. He was survived by his wife and five children. Fortunately he bought a life insurance policy payable to his wife in the amount of $2,500 just days before he was killed.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MN-518EFDBC
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

143 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Chief of Police Shipley gave the Faribault Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Faribault community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Location Faribault, MN
Platform Identity fpd.rice.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 8, 1883
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 48
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun
Offender Convicted of manslaughter

Chief of Police David J. Shipley 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 Faribault Police Department, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Faribault Police Department
1
of 3 officers
33.3% 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. David J. Shipley'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 David J. Shipley Compares

Age at End of Watch
48
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
8
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Convicted of manslaughter

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David J. Shipley is highlighted in Jan.

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. David J. Shipley was killed by handgun.

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

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Faribault Police Department are honored on badge.nw.