Roll of Honor

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Chief of Police

Aldean Merlin Sorbo

Bricelyn Police Department — Bricelyn, MN

Felonious

End of Watch July 9, 1978

Age 46

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 120 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Chief of Police Aldean Sorbo was fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver on Highway 253 while directing traffic at a funeral home on July 4th, 1978. The FBI was able to determine the make of the car from paint samples taken from Chief Sorbo's clothing. Several days later two teenage girls were arrested and charged in connection with the accident. Chief Sorbo was the only member of the Bricelyn Police Department and had served with the agency for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his daughter and mother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MN-8A217BA4
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.
Chief of Police Sorbo gave the Bricelyn Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Bricelyn community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Sorbo.

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

Agency

Department Bricelyn Police Department

Location Bricelyn, MN

Platform Identity bpd.faribault.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 9, 1978

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 46

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile

Offender Cause: Vehicular assault

Chief of Police Aldean Merlin Sorbo 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%.

Bricelyn Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

MN — Statewide

173

of 293 officers

59% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Aldean Merlin Sorbo's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Aldean Merlin Sorbo Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Cause: Vehicular assault

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Aldean Merlin Sorbo is highlighted in Jul.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Aldean Merlin Sorbo was killed by automobile.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518