Incident
Sheriff Donald Eustice was shot and killed while serving mental commitment papers on a subject. As he and another deputy approached the man's farmhouse, the subject acknowledged them and then shot the unarmed Sheriff Eustice in the chest with a 12-gauge shotgun. The other deputy then ordered the man to drop his gun and took him into custody. The subject, 64, was found incompetent to stand trial and committed to a mental institution at St. Peter where he died in 1984. Sheriff Eustice had served in law enforcement for 24 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and nine children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MN-6615FC31- 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
24 years. You could have gone home.
Sheriff Eustice gave the Waseca County Sheriff's Office 24 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Waseca community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Eustice.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Donald D. Eustice 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 Waseca County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Donald D. Eustice's cause is highlighted.
How Donald D. Eustice Compares
Offender Outcome
Died in mental hospital in 1984
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Donald D. Eustice is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Donald D. Eustice was killed by shotgun; 12 gauge.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Waseca County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
