Roll of Honor

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Sheriff

Matthew Solbraa

Green County Sheriff's Office — Monroe, WI

Felonious

End of Watch May 7, 1919

Age 42

The Vigil Panel 37 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Sheriff Solbraa was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a murder suspect. The suspect, a man who shot and killed his employer, a local farmer, shot and killed a member of a posse that later apprehended him.

The suspect was convicted of three counts of first degree murder and sentenced to life. He died in Waupun Prison in 1931.

Sheriff Solbraa was survived by his wife, son, and daughter. In 1940 his son was appointed undersheriff of Green County.

Survivors

Sheriff Solbraa was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Sheriff Solbraa served with the Green County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Monroe community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Solbraa.

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

Agency

Department Green County Sheriff's Office

Location Monroe, WI

Platform Identity gcso.green.wi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 7, 1919

Age 42

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Died in prison

Sheriff Matthew Solbraa 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%.

Green County Sheriff's Office

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. Matthew Solbraa'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 Matthew Solbraa Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Died in prison

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Matthew Solbraa is highlighted in May.

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. Matthew Solbraa 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