Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Murphy succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained on June 14th, 1953, when he was shot in the shoulder while questioning a driver he had stopped.
The suspect had stolen the car in Hawthorne and had robbed a Tavern in Amery of $400. Although wounded, Patrolman Murphy chased the suspect into Hudson where the man shot and killed Patrolman Clarence Erickson, of the Hudson Police Department. The suspect shot Patrolman Erickson as he fled from his vehicle at a roadblock. Other officers shot and killed the suspect.
Patrolman Murphy had to undergo several surgeries. He suffered a stroke after one of the surgeries and never recovered.
Patrolman Murphy served with the St. Croix County Traffic Police which was later absorbed into the St. Croix County Sheriff's Office.
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BO-US-WI-6FA26980- Stewardship
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- 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 Murphy gave the St. Croix County Traffic Police 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Hudson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Murphy.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Lee Sylvester Murphy 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Lee Sylvester Murphy's cause is highlighted.
How Lee Sylvester Murphy Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lee Sylvester Murphy is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Lee Sylvester Murphy was killed by handgun.