Oscar G. Olson

Duluth Police Department — Duluth, MN

Felonious

End of Watch December 1, 1941

Age 54

Tour of Duty 33 yrs

The Vigil Panel 78 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 7

Incident

Lieutenant Oscar Olson was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect who had barricaded himself inside his house at 2212 West First Street with a gun. Lieutenant Olson attempted to resolve the situation peacefully, but was eventually forced to kick down the door. As he did so the man shot him with a revolver. Lieutenant Olson was able to return fire and killed the man. Lieutenant Olson had served with the Duluth Police Department for 33 years and had previously served as its police chief from 1935 to 1939.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MN-11F5B9B9
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

33 years. You could have gone home.
Lieutenant Olson gave the Duluth Police Department 33 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Duluth community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Olson.

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

Agency

Department Duluth Police Department

Location Duluth, MN

Platform Identity dpd.stlouis.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 1, 1941

Tour of Duty 33 yrs

Age 54

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Shot and killed

Lieutenant Oscar G. Olson 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 Duluth Police Department, 7 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 87.5% of this agency's fallen.

Duluth Police Department

of 8 officers

87.5% Felonious

MN — Statewide

173

of 293 officers

59% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious