William F. Herkal

Minneapolis Police Department — Minneapolis, MN

Felonious

End of Watch May 11, 1959

Age 35

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

The Vigil Panel 94 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 49

Incident

Sergeant William Herkal was shot and killed while responding to a robbery at a store at 2124 East Lake Street in Minneapolis. The manager had hit the alarm button, and another employee in the back called the police. Two detectives arrived first and were able to grab the suspects. However, one of the men broke free and exchanged shots with a detective. As the man ran out of the door, he encountered Sergeant Herkal, who was just arriving. He shot Sergeant Herkal three times with a .38 caliber revolver before being shot and critically wounded by another officer with a riot gun. The other suspect was taken into custody inside the store. Sergeant Herkal's killer was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life on June 10, 1959. The other suspect was convicted of third-degree murder. Sergeant Herkal had served with the Minneapolis Police Department for 11 years.

Survivors

She is survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MN-AE373173
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.
Sergeant Herkal gave the Minneapolis Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Minneapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Herkal.

— 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 May 11, 1959

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

Age 35

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber

Offender Sentenced to life

Sergeant William F. Herkal 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