Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Mike Seversen succumbed to complications of a gunshot wound sustained on April 19th, 1991, as he and Deputy Sheriff Allen Albee, of the Burnett County Sheriff's Office, attempted to arrest a subject wanted for a shooting in Minnesota the previous day.
The subject's car was located near Webster Elementary School, in Burnett County. Deputy Seversen responded to the scene when the Burnett County Sheriff's Office requested additional assistance.
Several deputies, including Deputy Seversen and Deputy Albee, were approaching the subject near the school when the man opened fire with a .32 caliber handgun. Deputy Albee was killed and Deputy Seversen suffered a wound to his spinal cord, causing him to become paralyzed from the neck down.
Other deputies returned fire and killed the subject.
Deputy Seversen remained paralyzed from the neck down until passing away from complications of the wound on April 14th, 2014.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-WI-774774D8- Stewardship
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- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Seversen gave the Polk County Sheriff's Office 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Balsam Lake community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Seversen.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Michael J. Seversen 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 WI, 159 of 317 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50.2% of this state's fallen. That is 50.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael J. Seversen's cause is highlighted.
How Michael J. Seversen Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael J. Seversen is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Michael J. Seversen was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Polk County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.