James William Anderson
Agency patch
Sergeant

James William Anderson

Wayzata Police Department — Wayzata, MN
Felonious
End of Watch August 31, 1982
Age 36
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
The Vigil Panel 126 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant James Anderson was shot and killed while answering a domestic disturbance call at apartment building at the intersection of Rice Street and Superior Boulevard. As he entered the apartment building lobby the suspect shot him in the chest three times. The man then fled and took hostages in the local post office before committing suicide. Sergeant Anderson had served with the six-man Wayzata Police Department for one year and had served in law enforcement for 13 years. He was killed on his 36th birthday.

Survivors

He was survived by his fiancee and three sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MN-BCD10679
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.
Sergeant Anderson gave the Wayzata Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Wayzata community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Anderson.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Wayzata, Hennepin County, MN
Platform Identity wpd.hennepin.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 31, 1982
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Age 36
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Sergeant James William Anderson 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 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 59 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Wayzata 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.

Wayzata Police Department
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
MN — Statewide
173
of 293 officers
59% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James William Anderson's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How James William Anderson Compares

Age at Death
36
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
13
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James William Anderson is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James William Anderson was killed by gun.

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

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Wayzata Police Department are honored on badge.nw.