Roll of Honor
Hughes Van Etten
Incident
Sheriff Van Etten and Patrolman Wilbert McMicken, of the International Falls Department succumbed to gunshot wounds received on September 18, 1922. Several officers had gone to a home to arrest a man for forging stolen checks. When the occupants of the house refused to open the door, the officers attempted to force entry. One of the men inside opened fire, striking Patrolman McMicken and Sheriff Van Etten each in a leg. The wounded officers were taken to a local hospital where Patrolman McMicken died the following day. Sheriff Van Etten succumbed to his wound 11 days later. The suspect was able to escape but was later shot and killed by a posse. Sheriff Van Etten had been with the Koochiching County Sheriff's Department for eight years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MN-81C64E99- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Van Etten gave the Koochiching County Sheriff's Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the International Falls community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Van Etten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Hughes Van Etten is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 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 59 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Koochiching County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Hughes Van Etten's cause is highlighted.
How Hughes Van Etten Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Hughes Van Etten is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Hughes Van Etten was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Koochiching County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.