Joseph G. Pudlick

Minneapolis Police Department — Minneapolis, MN

Felonious

End of Watch February 4, 1972

Age 57

Tour of Duty 28 yrs

The Vigil Panel 109 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 49

Incident

Patrolman Joseph Pudlick was shot and killed while assisting two Hennepin County deputies arrest a man on a mental commitment order at 2540 NE Quincy Street. The suspect was apprehended and initially sentenced to 40 years. The conviction was overturned by the Minnesota Supreme Court after he was found incompetent. He was subsequently committed to a statement mental hospital until his death. Patrolman Pudlick had served with the Minneapolis Police Department for 28 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MN-30C3F30F
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

28 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Pudlick gave the Minneapolis Police Department 28 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Minneapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Pudlick.

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

Agency

Department Minneapolis Police Department

Location Minneapolis, MN

Platform Identity mpd.hennepin.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 4, 1972

Tour of Duty 28 yrs

Age 57

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Committed

Patrolman Joseph G. Pudlick 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 Minneapolis Police Department, 32 of 50 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64% of this agency's fallen.

Minneapolis Police Department

of 50 officers

64% Felonious

MN — Statewide

173

of 293 officers

59% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious