Nels C. Anderson
Agency patch
Officer

Nels C. Anderson

Minneapolis Police Department — Minneapolis, MN
Felonious
End of Watch May 31, 1916
Age 50
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
The Vigil Panel 31 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Nels Anderson was shot and killed after responding to a call in which a man had just murdered his wife. The suspect murdered his wife in a drugstore and then fled back to his home on 24th Avenue South. When Officer Anderson arrived he forced his way into the home and ordered the man to surrender. During an exchange of gunfire Officer Anderson was fatally wounded. The suspect then committed suicide.

Survivors

Officer Anderson had been with the agency 12 years and was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Anderson gave the Minneapolis Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Minneapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Anderson.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Minneapolis, Hennepin County, MN
Platform Identity mpd.hennepin.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 31, 1916
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 50
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Nels is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1916, 155 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 24th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Nels was 50. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Nels had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Minneapolis Police Department has 50 officers remembered here, Nels among them.

Across the years

Officer Nels C. Anderson

Minneapolis Police Department · End of Watch May 31, 1916

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 46-E

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