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Deputy Sheriff

Walter William Kruegel

Fillmore County Sheriff's Department — Preston, MN

Felonious

End of Watch November 10, 1954

Age 59

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 90 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Walter Kruegel succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained nine days earlier while transporting a prisoner. The prisoner produced a concealed .22 caliber handgun and shot Deputy Kruegel twice. Deputy Kruegel was able to struggle with the man and gain control of the gun but the man fled. The suspect was eventually apprehended and charged with murder after Deputy Kruegel died. On March 12, 1955, the suspect, 35, pleaded guilty to third degree murder and was sentenced to 7 to 30 years. Deputy Kruegel had served with the Fillmore County Sheriff's Office for four years.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-MN-26BD92C9
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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 Kruegel gave the Fillmore County Sheriff's Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Preston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Kruegel.

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

Agency

Department Fillmore County Sheriff's Department

Location Preston, MN

Platform Identity fcso.fillmore.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 10, 1954

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 59

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .22 caliber

Offender Sentenced to 30 years

Deputy Sheriff Walter William Kruegel 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%.

Fillmore County Sheriff's Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

MN — Statewide

173

of 293 officers

59% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Walter William Kruegel's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Walter William Kruegel Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 30 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Walter William Kruegel is highlighted in Nov.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Walter William Kruegel was killed by handgun; .22 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518