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Patrol Officer

Kenneth M. Olson

East Grand Forks Police Department — East Grand Forks, MN

Felonious

End of Watch July 19, 1978

Age 25

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Badge 543

The Vigil Panel 120 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrol Officer Kenneth Olson was shot and killed while answering a prowler call on Ninth Street Northeast at 2:30 am. While investigating the call the man who called to report the prowler opened fire with a shotgun, striking Officer Olson in the chest. Officer Olson had served with the East Grand Forks Police Department for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MN-367A6781
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.
Patrol Officer Olson gave the East Grand Forks Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the East Grand Forks community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Officer Olson.

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

Agency

Department East Grand Forks Police Department

Location East Grand Forks, MN

Platform Identity egfpd.polk.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 19, 1978

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 25

Badge Number 543

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Not available

Patrol Officer Kenneth M. Olson 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%.

East Grand Forks Police 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. Kenneth M. Olson'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 Kenneth M. Olson 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

Not available

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Kenneth M. Olson is highlighted in Jul.

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. Kenneth M. Olson was killed by shotgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518