Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Elmer Sundby was shot and killed while attempting to arrest an armed robbery suspect. The suspect had robbed a power company of trolley car receipts and fled towards a wooded area on the bank of the Chippewa River. Chief Sundby, his officers, and citizens began a search of the area. Chief Sundby located the suspect and confronted him. During the ensuing shootout, Chief Sundby was shot twice. The suspect escaped by swimming across the river and was never apprehended. Chief Sundby had served with the Eau Claire Police Department for 12 years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WI-3FFFAF6A- 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.
Chief of Police Sundby gave the Eau Claire Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Eau Claire community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Sundby.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Elmer Sundby 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 97,775 officers honored here.
In WI, 159 of 317 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50.2% of this state's fallen. That is 50.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Eau Claire Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Elmer Sundby's cause is highlighted.
How Elmer Sundby Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Elmer Sundby is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Elmer Sundby was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Eau Claire Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
