Roll of Honor
Incident
Village Marshal James Gardner succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained five days earlier after responding to the home a mentally ill man who had been causing a disturbance on October 27th, 1916.
He had already been called to the home two times earlier in the evening after the subject became disorderly due to heavy drinking. The subject had destroyed furniture in his sister-in-law's home and set fire to it before leaving to obtain a shotgun.
Marshal Gardner was able to extinguish the flames. The man then came out of the home and shot him with a double barreled shotgun, mortally wounding him. Marshal Gardner was taken to Swedish Hospital, in Minneapolis, where he remained until succumbing to his wounds on November 1st, 1916.
The subject was convicted of Marshal Gardner's murder and sentenced to prison. He was paroled in 1928.
No passage of time can ever erase your service and sacrifice. Rest in peace always.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo Delaware State Police (Retired) November 1st, 2020
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MN-A6C9E52D- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Village Marshal Gardner served with the Osseo Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Osseo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Village Marshal Gardner.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Village Marshal James L. Gardner 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James L. Gardner's cause is highlighted.
How James L. Gardner Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1928
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James L. Gardner is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James L. Gardner was killed by shotgun.