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Chief of Police

Elmer Sundby

Eau Claire Police Department — Eau Claire, WI

Felonious

End of Watch July 26, 1921

Age 48

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

The Vigil Panel 41 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Chief of Police Elmer Sundby was shot and killed while attempting to arrest an armed robbery suspect. The suspect had robbed a power company of trolley car receipts and fled towards a wooded area on the bank of the Chippewa River. Chief Sundby, his officers, and citizens began a search of the area. Chief Sundby located the suspect and confronted him. During the ensuing shootout, Chief Sundby was shot twice. The suspect escaped by swimming across the river and was never apprehended. Chief Sundby had served with the Eau Claire Police Department for 12 years.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-WI-3FFFAF6A
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.
Chief of Police Sundby gave the Eau Claire Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Eau Claire community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Sundby.

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

Agency

Department Eau Claire Police Department

Location Eau Claire, WI

Platform Identity ecpd.eauclaire.wi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 26, 1921

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

Age 48

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Never apprehended

Chief of Police Elmer Sundby 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 Eau Claire Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Eau Claire Police Department

of 2 officers

100% 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. Elmer Sundby'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 Elmer Sundby Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Never apprehended

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Elmer Sundby is highlighted in Jul.

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. Elmer Sundby was killed by gun; unknown type.

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 Eau Claire Police Department are honored on badge.nw.