Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Earl Van Deusen was shot and killed during a domestic dispute in which a man took his wife hostage. As the man led his wife down a rear set of stairs, the deputy posted there ordered him to stop. The man fired at the deputy but missed. As Deputy Van Deusen emerged from the kitchen of the home into the rear hallway, the subject shot him in the right side, causing a fatal wound. The suspect was convicted of Deputy Van Deusen's murder but was released after only six years. Deputy Van Deusen had served with the Dane County Sheriff's Office for one year.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WI-3622434C- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Van Deusen gave the Dane County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Madison community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Van Deusen.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Earl Van Deusen 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 Dane County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Earl Van Deusen's cause is highlighted.
How Earl Van Deusen Compares
Offender Outcome
Released after 6 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Earl Van Deusen is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Earl Van Deusen was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Dane County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
