Clayton Olson

Minneapolis Police Department — Minneapolis, MN

Felonious

End of Watch August 9, 1931

Age 36

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

The Vigil Panel 62 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 49

Incident

Patrolman Olson was shot and killed while investigating a suspicious man on East Lake Street. When he followed the man into an alley the suspect opened fire with a .45 caliber handgun, striking Patrolman Olson six times. The suspect then fled the scene. Patrolman Olson was able to stagger out of the alley but died before medical assistance arrived. During a manhunt the suspect was shot and killed by another officer.

Survivors

Patrolman Olson had been with the agency for five years and was survived by his wife and 4-year-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MN-9AA1A857
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.
Patrolman Olson gave the Minneapolis Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Minneapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Olson.

— 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 9, 1931

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .45 caliber

Offender Shot and killed

Patrolman Clayton Olson 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