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Patrolman

John Peterson

Red Wing Police Department — Red Wing, MN

Felonious

End of Watch January 16, 1907

Age 51

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

The Vigil Panel 21 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Patrolman Peterson and Chief James Daily both succumbed to gunshot wounds received the previous day when they attempted to apprehend a suspicious person at the Sibley Hotel. The man was mentally deranged and opened fire on the officers, mortally wounding both of them. The suspect was committed in a state mental hospital and died there on May 11, 1931. Patrolman Peterson had served with the agency for 14 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MN-A4D9EAF0
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Peterson gave the Red Wing Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Red Wing community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Peterson.

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

Agency

Department Red Wing Police Department

Location Red Wing, MN

Platform Identity rwpd.goodhue.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 16, 1907

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

Age 51

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Deceased

Patrolman John Peterson is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 4.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Red Wing 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.

Red Wing Police Department

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

MN — Statewide

173

of 293 officers

59% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Peterson's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How John Peterson Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Deceased

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Peterson is highlighted in Jan.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Peterson was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Red Wing Police Department are honored on badge.nw.