Nick A. Klaske

Fond du Lac Police Department — Fond du Lac, WI

Felonious

End of Watch October 31, 1961

Age 37

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

Badge 6

The Vigil Panel 96 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Patrolman Nick Klaske was shot and killed after responding to a burglary call at a local gas station. When he arrived he surprised three suspects in the act of robbery and engaged the suspects in a foot pursuit, during which one of the suspects suddenly turned and opened fire with a .25 caliber handgun, striking Patrolman Klaske in the abdomen. Patrolman Klaske succumbed to his wounds two days later. One suspect, 17, was arrested at the scene by Fon du Lac police. The other two, 24 and 25, were captured near Sun Prairie in Dane County a short time later after a 70 mile high speed chase. The older suspect admitted that he shot Patrolman Klaske. He threw the revolver he used out of the car window just before he was apprehended. He was convicted of his murder and burglary and sentenced to life plus 20 years in prison. On January 15, 1973, he applied for parole. The result is unknown. The other suspects were convicted of third degree murder and several burglaries and sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Survivors

Patrolman Klaske had served with the agency for 11 years and was survived by his expectant wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WI-6408F17B
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.
Patrolman Klaske gave the Fond du Lac Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fond du Lac community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Klaske.

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

Agency

Department Fond du Lac Police Department

Location Fond du Lac, WI

Platform Identity fdlpd.fonddulac.wi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 31, 1961

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

Age 37

Badge Number 6

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .25 caliber

Offender Sentenced to life plus 20 years

Patrolman Nick A. Klaske 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 Fond du Lac Police Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Fond du Lac Police Department

of 4 officers

75% Felonious

WI — Statewide

159

of 317 officers

50.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious