Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Norman Helmer was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a hobo who had threatened to shoot another man.
Deputy Helmer, another deputy, the sheriff and a game warden had gone in search of the hobo near a set of railroad tracks.
Deputy Helmer was about 100 yards ahead of the group when several boys who were accompanying him spotted the subject hiding in bushes. The subject complied when Deputy Helmer told him to put down a rifle and come out of the bushes. When the man emerged, however, he produced a .45 caliber revolver and the two exchanged shots. Deputy Helmer and the man were both killed in the exchange.
Deputy Helmer was survived by his wife, two children, parents, and three siblings. He is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Bemidji, Minnesota.
Survivors
Deputy Helmer was survived by his wife, two children, parents, and three siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MN-166F99AF- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Helmer served with the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Bemidji community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Helmer.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Norman Helmer 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 Beltrami County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Norman Helmer's cause is highlighted.
How Norman Helmer Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Norman Helmer is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Norman Helmer was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Beltrami County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
