Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Gaik was shot and killed in an ambush attack as he was driving his patrol car while he was on patrol near Odanah. Other deputies found him in his patrol car near US 2. He had been killed by a shotgun blast through the windshield at close range. A month later a 15 year old boy was arrested and charged with Deputy Gaik's murder. The suspect was found delinquent in connection with Deputy Gaik's murder and sentenced to the boy's reformatory school in Irma in July of 1971.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WI-9DB7A008- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Gaik served with the Ashland County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Ashland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Gaik.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Walter Gaik 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. Walter Gaik's cause is highlighted.
How Walter Gaik Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Walter Gaik is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Walter Gaik was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Ashland County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.