Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Brian Klinefelter was shot and killed while attempting to arrest three suspects who had just robbed a liquor store in Albany, MN. He was shot while approaching the suspects' pickup truck just west of the intersection of County Road 133 on the south side of County Road 75 in St. Joseph, MN. Two rounds were stopped by his vest, but two others struck him in his neck and waist. He was pronounced dead approximately one hour later. After a chase, the suspects split up. The shooter forced his way into a house and took the owner hostage. He forced the man to drive around police roadblocks and then locked him in the trunk of the car. A Benton County Sheriff's deputy spotted the car. The suspect pulled over, got out, and pointed the gun at his head. The deputy ordered the man to drop the gun, but he did not. The deputy shot him once, killing him. The other two suspects were found hiding under a deck and arrested. The two suspects arrested were charged with first-degree murder under a law that allows accomplices to be charged with the crime. Officer Klinefelter was posthumously awarded the first-ever Minnesota Medal of Honor for his actions during an incident that had occurred in August 1995. His wife accepted the award on his behalf. Officer Klinefelter had served with the St. Joseph Police Department for 2 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, a 3-month-old daughter, parents, and three siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MN-575EEEA9- 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.
Police Officer Klinefelter gave the St. Joseph Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Joseph community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Klinefelter.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Brian David Klinefelter 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Brian David Klinefelter's cause is highlighted.
How Brian David Klinefelter Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Brian David Klinefelter is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Brian David Klinefelter was killed by handgun.