Roll of Honor

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Deputy Constable

Brian W. Heikkila

Solway Township Police Department — Cloquet, MN

Felonious

End of Watch November 19, 1983

Age 20

The Vigil Panel 127 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Constable Brian Heikkila was struck and killed by a driver attempting to run a roadblock on Canosia Road three miles north of Esko. Constable Heikkila and another officer had parked their vehicle across the roadway to try to stop the car that was being pursued by other officers. When it was evident the car was not going to stop, Constable Heikkila attempted to run to a ditch for cover. The car, however, swerved around the roadblock and struck Constable Heikkila at an estimated 100 mph. The 24-year-old suspect continued driving after striking Contable Heikkila. He was apprehended a short time later and charged with several counts relating to Constable Heikkila's death. He was convicted of aggravated drunk driving and fleeing to elude arrest, causing death. Constable Heikkila was a part-time officer with the Solway Township Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents, brother, and fiancee.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MN-06110794
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Constable Heikkila served with the Solway Township Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Cloquet community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Constable Heikkila.

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

Agency

Department Solway Township Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Cloquet, MN

Platform Identity stpd.carlton.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 19, 1983

Age 20

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile

Deputy Constable Brian W. Heikkila is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 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 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.

Solway Township Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

MN — Statewide

173

of 293 officers

59% Felonious

Nationwide

17,559

of 32,587 officers

53.9% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Brian W. Heikkila's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,559 (53.9%)

Accident

10,095 (31%)

Illness

3,037 (9.3%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

334 (1%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

How Brian W. Heikkila Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Brian W. Heikkila is highlighted in Nov.

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. Brian W. Heikkila was killed by automobile.

Handgun

3,684

Gun

3,592

Gun; Unknown type

1,492

Shotgun

1,109

Rifle

935

Officer's handgun

909