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Captain

Elmer Krueger

Merrill Police Department — Merrill, WI

Felonious

End of Watch July 19, 1952

Age 40

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

The Vigil Panel 88 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Captain Elmer Krueger was shot and killed after arresting a drunk man outside of an elementary school. Captain Krueger was inside the school during a dance and was told the man was outside looking for help. Captain Krueger began to walk the man to the sheriff's department, which was across the street from the school, when the man suddenly produced a pistol and shot him. Deputies inside the jail heard the shots and Captain Krueger's yells and came to assist. Captain Krueger was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds several days later. The suspect was arrested and was entenced to life in prison on November 14, 1953, but was paroled in June of 1964. Captain Krueger had served with the agency for 13 years.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-WI-9F451BFF
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.
Captain Krueger gave the Merrill Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Merrill community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Krueger.

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

Agency

Department Merrill Police Department

Location Merrill, WI

Platform Identity mpd.lincoln.wi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 19, 1952

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

Age 40

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Escaped

Captain Elmer Krueger 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%.

Merrill Police Department

of 1 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 Krueger'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 Krueger 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

Escaped

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Elmer Krueger 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 Krueger 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