Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff John Stack and Chief Deputy Andrew Herlitz were shot and killed after responding to a dispute between two farmers over a tractor. When the officers arrived, one of the men shot Deputy Herlitz first, and then Sheriff Stack as he was trying to put Deputy Herlitz in the police vehicle. The suspect turned himself in to the police and was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. He pled guilty to two counts of third-degree murder and was sentenced to 40 years on September 23rd, 1966. Sheriff Stack was a United States Navy veteran and had served with the Morrison County Sheriff's Office for 10 years. He was survived by his wife and four children. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery, just West of Anoka, Minnesota.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MN-1E4C3535- 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. Navy. One record, 2 gates. John 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.
Sheriff Stack gave the Morrison County Sheriff's Office 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Little Falls 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John E. Stack served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.
Sheriff John E. Stack 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 Morrison County Sheriff's Office, 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. John E. Stack's cause is highlighted.
How John E. Stack Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John E. Stack is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John E. Stack was killed by shotgun.
Military Service
John E. Stack served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.
Visit John E. Stack’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Morrison County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
