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Appointed – February 18, 1943

End of Watch – June 6, 1945

Officer Marvin A Wicklund joined the Minneapolis Police Department on February 18, 1943.  Because he was married with three children, and because being a police officer was considered a vital occupation, Officer Wicklund was unsuccessful in his first three attempts to enlist.  On August 1, 1944, he was finally accepted by the Marines.

Officer Wicklund was assigned to Company H, Third Battalion, 29th Marines, 6th Division.  He took part in the invasion of Okinawa.  In action against Japanese forces on June 6, 1945, he was killed by a sniper.  Officer Wicklund was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Victory Medal World War II and a Presidential Unit Citation with ribbon and star for “extraordinary heroism in action.”

Officer Wicklund was 30 years old at the time of his death.  He lived at 3923 Upton Avenue North in Minneapolis with his wife, Mina, and their children.  He was buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, also known as the Punchbowl.  

Officer Wicklund was the only member of the Minneapolis Police Department ever to be killed while on military duty.

Appointed – December 28, 1920

End of Watch –  December 24, 1930

On December 8, 1930, Minneapolis police detectives, acting on a tip, raided an apartment at 825 8th Street South and discovered a criminal hideout just organized in Minneapolis.  Police arrested one man and also seized a large weapons arsenal containing shotguns, pistols, ammunition, tear gas, and a submachine gun.  After the discovery, Detectives Harry Parker and Dan Noonan stayed behind to try to catch two bank robbers from Chicago who were being sought as the leaders of the gang and who were expected to arrive at the apartment later.  On December 9, around 6:00 pm, the detectives heard footsteps and then a knock at the door.  The bank robbers entered and the detectives identified themselves.  Gunfire commenced leaving Detective Parker critically wounded and one of the assailants dead.  Detective Noonan called for back-up and an ambulance and Detective Parker was transported to Minneapolis General Hospital.  His condition improved after surgery and he was transferred to St Barnabas Hospital where he continued to improved.  Then, shortly before Christmas, Detective Parker’s health began to decline.  He was transferred home for Christmas to spend time with his wife, his son, and his daughter.  He lost consciousness on December 23 and passed away from his wounds on Christmas Eve morning.  Detective Parker was 38 years old and had served on the Minneapolis Police Department for 10 years.  His funeral and burial took place on December 27, 1930 at Crystal Lake Cemetery in North Minneapolis. 

Appointed – July 10, 1899

End of Watch – December 25, 1925

Sergeant Michael Lawrence was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a robbery suspect at Fourteenth Avenue North and Sixth Street North.

For several years, he had worked as a logger in various Minneapolis lumber mills, but gave up that work to join the Minneapolis Police Department in 1899.  He served for 26 years, first as a patrol officer, then as a desk sergeant, and later as Commander of the North Side Gun Squad.

Sergeant Lawrence lived with his family at 1530 Hillside Avenue North.  He was survived by his wife, one son, and three daughters.

Led by Frank W. Brunskill, Minneapolis Chief of Police, 125 Minneapolis and St. Paul Police Officers formed a guard of honor at the funeral service for their fallen colleague.

Sergeant Lawrence was buried at St Mary’s Cemetery on January 1, the very day on which he was scheduled to retire from service.

Photograph courtesy of Hennepin County Library