Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Root succumbed to wounds received when he was beaten and shot with his own weapon during a traffic stop on West Second Street. Two juvenile suspects attacked him with a jack handle and then shot him with his own weapon. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to the wounds six weeks later. Both suspects were apprehended, but because of delay in Sergeant Root's death neither was charged with murder.
Survivors
Sergeant Root had been with the agency for 24 years and was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MN-BCC149B0- 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
24 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Root gave the Duluth Police Department 24 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Duluth community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Root.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Carl Richard Root 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 Duluth Police Department, 7 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 87.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Carl Richard Root's cause is highlighted.
How Carl Richard Root Compares
Offender Outcome
Not charged with murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Carl Richard Root is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Carl Richard Root was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Duluth Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
