Nels C. Anderson

Minneapolis Police Department — Minneapolis, MN

Felonious

End of Watch May 31, 1916

Age 50

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

The Vigil Panel 31 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 49

Incident

Officer Nels Anderson was shot and killed after responding to a call in which a man had just murdered his wife. The suspect murdered his wife in a drugstore and then fled back to his home on 24th Avenue South. When Officer Anderson arrived he forced his way into the home and ordered the man to surrender. During an exchange of gunfire Officer Anderson was fatally wounded. The suspect then committed suicide.

Survivors

Officer Anderson had been with the agency 12 years and was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MN-3D7433C8
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.
Officer Anderson gave the Minneapolis Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Minneapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Anderson.

— 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 May 31, 1916

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

Age 50

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Committed suicide

Officer Nels C. Anderson 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