Robert H. Fossum

Minneapolis Police Department — Minneapolis, MN

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch August 17, 1957

Age 31

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

The Vigil Panel 93 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 49

Incident

Patrolman Bob Fossum was shot and killed during a vehicle pursuit of several suspects. He and his partner, Patrolman Ward Canfield, began chasing a stolen car, not knowing that the three occupants were en route to rob a local market. During the chase, the suspects started firing at the officers' squad car before crashing on Blaisdell and West 39th Street. As the officers approached, the suspects opened fire again, striking Patrolman Fossum in the head and killing him. As the suspects attempted to escape, they also shot Officer Canfield before striking him with their vehicle and dragging him approximately 30 feet. The suspects, all brothers, were able to elude authorities for 28 days before they were located. Two of the suspects were shot and killed in a shootout with police, and the third suspect committed suicide in jail in 1958. Patrolman Canfield was forced to retire due to his injuries in 1960 and was confined to a wheelchair and his bed. His injuries required him to have 97 blood transfusions and over 100 surgeries. He succumbed to his wounds on March 2, 2000. The Hennepin County, Minnesota, coroner ruled his death a homicide due to the gunshot wounds. Patrolman Fossum was a United States Navy WWII veteran and had served with the Minneapolis Police Department for six years.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MN-8FAFB096
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Fossum gave the Minneapolis Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Minneapolis community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Minneapolis Police Department

Location Minneapolis, MN

Platform Identity mpd.hennepin.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 17, 1957

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 31

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Military Service

Robert H. Fossum served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman Robert H. Fossum 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 Minneapolis Police Department, 32 of 50 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64% of this agency's fallen.

Minneapolis Police Department

of 50 officers

64% Felonious

MN — Statewide

173

of 293 officers

59% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious