Roll of Honor

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Sheriff

Matt Olson

Barron County Sheriff's Dept. — Barron, WI

Felonious

End of Watch January 25, 1916

Age 46

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 3 mo

The Vigil Panel 30 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Sheriff Matt Olson was shot and instantly killed by a farmer in rural Barron County while he was trying to repossess a horse at 11 am. The farmer was later arrested by a posse and brought to the county seat to be held accountable for the murder. The suspect was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison on May 10, 1916. He applied for parole in 1923. The outcome is unknown. Sheriff Olson had served as Sheriff for over a year with the Barron County Sheriff's Department. He was survived by his wife and three children. He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Prairie Farm, Wisconsin.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WI-2C86B743
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

You barely got started.
Sheriff Olson gave the Barron County Sheriff's Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Barron community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Olson.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Barron County Sheriff's Dept.

Location Barron, WI

Platform Identity bcso.barron.wi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 25, 1916

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 3 mo

Age 46

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

Offender Sentenced to 25 years

Sheriff Matt 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 WI, 159 of 317 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50.2% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Barron County Sheriff's Dept., 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Barron County Sheriff's Dept.

of 2 officers

50% Felonious

WI — Statewide

159

of 317 officers

50.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Matt Olson's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Matt Olson Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

1.2

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 25 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Matt Olson is highlighted in Jan.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Matt Olson was killed by rifle.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Barron County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.