Roll of Honor
William Arthur Grimstad
Incident
Location: Minnesota Weapon: Handgun Offender: Acquitted
Detective William Grimstad was shot and killed in the Camden area of Minneapolis, Minnesota, as he and two other detectives attempted to arrest two men who were trespassing on a freight train.
One of the two men opened fire on the detectives in the freight yards near 45th Avenue and Colfax Avenue, striking Detective Grimstad in the leg. He suffered a severed artery as a result of the wound and died while en route to General Hospital.
The suspect was wounded by return gunfire. He was arrested but later acquitted after claiming he did not have a gun.
Detective Grimstad had served with the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad Police Department for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-E50F9A11- 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.
Detective Grimstad gave the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Minneapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Grimstad.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective William Arthur Grimstad 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, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad Police Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Arthur Grimstad's cause is highlighted.
How William Arthur Grimstad Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Arthur Grimstad is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Arthur Grimstad was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
