Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

Jerome Victor Haaf

Minneapolis Police Department — Minneapolis, MN

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch September 25, 1992

Age 53

Tour of Duty 30 yrs

Badge 2590

The Vigil Panel 138 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 49

Incident

While working his traffic assignment, thirty-year veteran Officer Jerry Haaf decided to take a coffee break. He went to the Pizza Shack, which was a favorite south-side restaurant that police officers had frequented for many years. Officer Haaf was seated in the restaurant with several other people. As he read the newspaper, two assailants from the street gang, “Vice Lords,“ came from behind and fired several bullets into his back. The two murderers ran from the restaurant as Officer Haaf lay on the floor, mortally wounded, calling for help on his portable radio. Another patron who had been sitting at the same table was wounded at the same time Officer Haaf was executed. After the murderers fled, a retired Minneapolis officer and other patrons went to Officer Haaf’s aid. Moments later, police officers arrived and started administering first aid. Officer Haaf was taken to the County Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. A multi-agency investigation into the murder of Officer Jerry Haaf was started. After months of work and hundreds of pages of statements and interviews, the killers were convicted and sent to prison. One subject was sentenced to life, and three others were sentenced to 30 years. Officer Haaf was a United States Air Force veteran who had served with the Minneapolis Police Department for 30 years and was a few months from retirement.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MN-C4184562
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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. Jerome is one person.

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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 Haaf gave the Minneapolis Police Department 30 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 25, 1992

Tour of Duty 30 yrs

Age 53

Badge Number 2590

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Military Service

Jerome Victor Haaf served in the U.S. Air Force (1956â1960) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Jerome Victor Haaf 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