Herbert Dreger

Madison Police Department — Madison, WI

Felonious

End of Watch December 2, 1924

The Vigil Panel 48 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Patrolman Herbert Dreger was killed by a shotgun blast when he was ambushed as he walked his beat. Two suspects were arrested a short time later. Patrolman Dreger had arrested one of them three weeks earlier for drunk driving. A month later both suspects were tried and acquitted. The suspect who Patrolman Dreger arrested for drunk driving died of natural causes in 1927.

Survivors

Patrolman Dreger was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WI-FFF91555
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 Dreger served with the Madison Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Madison community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Dreger.

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

Agency

Department Madison Police Department

Location Madison, WI

Platform Identity madipd.dane.wi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 2, 1924

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Acquitted

Patrolman Herbert Dreger 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 Madison Police Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Madison Police Department

of 4 officers

100% Felonious

WI — Statewide

159

of 317 officers

50.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious