James H. Trepanier

Minneapolis Police Department — Minneapolis, MN

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch September 20, 1938

Age 42

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

The Vigil Panel 75 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 49

Incident

Patrolman James Trepanier succumbed to gunshot wounds received ten years earlier when he and his partner attempted to arrest several men in a club at 718 Sixth Avenue North at 4:00 a.m. When his partner left the room to call for a wagon, one of the men opened fire, hitting Officer Trepanier multiple times. He returned fire, but the shooter fled the scene. Patrolman Trepanier was transported to the hospital and underwent multiple surgeries. One of the bullets remained lodged in his spine, causing him to become paralyzed until his death. Three men were arrested and charged with accessory, but charges were dropped when everyone testified that a fourth man shot Officer Trepanier. The shooter fled the area and continued committing crimes and murder until he was killed in a gang war in Detroit. He had been identified as the shooter of Patrolman Miles Cunningham of the Chicago Police Department (Illinois) on September 22, 1933. Patrolman Trepanier was a United States Army WWI veteran. At the time of the shooting, Patrolman Trepanier had served with the Minneapolis Police Department for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MN-E9CB6170
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 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.
Patrolman Trepanier gave the Minneapolis Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Minneapolis community, 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 Minneapolis Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Minneapolis, Hennepin County, MN

Platform Identity mpd.hennepin.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 20, 1938

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 42

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Military Service

James H. Trepanier served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman James H. Trepanier 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 97,759 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 Minneapolis Police Department, 32 of 50 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64% of this agency's fallen.

Minneapolis Police Department

of 50 officers

64% Felonious

MN — Statewide

173

of 293 officers

59% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious