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Donald Bert Ziesmer
Agency patch
Trooper

Donald Bert Ziesmer

Minnesota State Patrol — St. Paul, MN
Felonious Veteran
United States flag Minnesota flag
End of Watch October 15, 1973
Age 46
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Badge 180
The Vigil Panel 112 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 7

Incident

Trooper Donald Ziesmer was shot and killed while making a traffic stop of a van on Highway 61 near Tofte. One of the occupants exited the van and opened fire with a .22 caliber rifle, striking Trooper Ziesmer while he was still sitting in his patrol car. The man then committed suicide. Trooper Ziesmer was a United States Navy veteran and had served with the Minnesota State Patrol for 13 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MN-6A8C7A85
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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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.
Trooper Ziesmer gave the Minnesota State Patrol 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Minnesota, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Minnesota State Patrol
Type Highway Patrol
Location St. Paul, MN
Platform Identity mhp.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 15, 1973
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Age 46
Badge Number 180
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

Military Service

Donald Bert Ziesmer served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Trooper Donald Bert Ziesmer is one of 17,558 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,585 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 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.

At Minnesota State Patrol, 3 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 37.5% of this agency's fallen.

Minnesota State Patrol
3
of 8 officers
37.5% Felonious
MN — Statewide
173
of 293 officers
59% Felonious
Nationwide
17,558
of 32,585 officers
53.9% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Donald Bert Ziesmer's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,558 (53.9%)
Accident
10,094 (31%)
Illness
3,037 (9.3%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
334 (1%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)

How Donald Bert Ziesmer Compares

Age at End of Watch
46
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
13
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Donald Bert Ziesmer is highlighted in Oct.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Donald Bert Ziesmer was killed by rifle.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Military Service

Donald Bert Ziesmer served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

Visit salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.