Patrick Devaney
Agency patch
Officer

Patrick Devaney

Minot Police Department — Minot, ND
Felonious
End of Watch April 26, 1918
Age 47
Tour of Duty 3 mo
The Vigil Panel 34 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Patrick Devaney was shot when he and Special Agent Kersey Gowin, of the North Dakota Attorney General's Office, were attempting to arrest two or more thieves. The officers were laying in wait in a field for the automobile tire thieves when they were shot. Officer Devaney was killed instantly. Agent Gowin was taken to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his wounds early the next morning. Five men were arrested, however, one confessed and was convicted. He served two years in prison before escaping and was considered at large. Officer Devaney had served with the Minot Police Department for only three months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-ND-E51996E6
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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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Devaney served with the Minot Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Minot community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Devaney.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Minot, Ward County, ND
Platform Identity mpd.ward.nd.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 26, 1918
Tour of Duty 3 mo
Age 47
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Officer Patrick Devaney 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 ND, 39 of 61 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Minot 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.

Minot Police Department
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
ND — Statewide
39
of 61 officers
63.9% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Patrick Devaney Compares

Age at Death
47
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Patrick Devaney is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Patrick Devaney was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Minot Police Department are honored on badge.nw.