Roll of Honor
Incident
Marshal Olson was shot and killed while attempting to arrest two men who were burglarizing a boxcar in the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad depot. The marshal had received a tip that a burglary would take place that night and surprised the men committing the crime. When he ordered the men to surrender, one of them opened fire, striking Marshal Olson once in the abdomen. He was picked up by citizens on Main Street and taken to Ovitz Hospital where he died early the next morning.
The county sheriff and several deputies responded to the scene. They followed tracks left in the snow to a nearby house where they arrested a suspect. The man confessed to the murder the next day and was sentenced to prison for the crime. He was paroled in 1945.
Marshal Olson had served in law enforcement for 23 years as a village marshal and deputy sheriff for the Forest County Sheriff's Office. He was a widower and survived by his son, three daughters, five brothers, and five sisters.
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
23 years. You could have gone home.
Village Marshal Olson gave the Laona Police Department 23 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Laona community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Village Marshal Olson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Village Marshal Otto K. 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Otto K. Olson's cause is highlighted.
How Otto K. Olson Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1945
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Otto K. Olson is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Otto K. Olson was killed by shotgun; 16 gauge.