Norman D. Fairbanks

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Enforcement Division — Saint Paul, MN

Felonious

End of Watch May 3, 1930

Age 58

The Vigil Panel 59 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 17

Incident

Game Warden Norman Fairbanks was shot and killed as he and another officer attempted to arrest two men for illegal trapping at a cabin at Wolf Lake, near Hibbing, Minnesota. The two men had failed to show up for a court appearance so the officers returned to the cabin to arrest them. As they entered the cabin one of the men opened fire, mortally wounding Warden Fairbanks. The other officer was not injured and was able to return fire as the suspects fled. Two months later one was shot and killed and the other was arrested. The one who was arrested was acquitted after pleading insanity. Warden Fairbanks succumbed to his wounds two weeks after the shooting. Warden Fairbanks was survived by his wife and six children. One of his sons was also a game warden and had gone to the scene of the shooting to transport his father to the hospital.

Survivors

Warden Fairbanks was survived by his wife and six children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MN-40564E88
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.
Game Warden Fairbanks served with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Thank you for your service to the Saint Paul community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Game Warden Fairbanks.

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

Agency

Department Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Enforcement Division

Location Saint Paul, MN

Platform Identity mdnredcons.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 3, 1930

Age 58

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Game Warden Norman D. Fairbanks 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 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Enforcement Division, 5 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 27.8% of this agency's fallen.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Enforcement Division

of 18 officers

27.8% Felonious

MN — Statewide

173

of 293 officers

59% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious