Trooper Donald Pederson
Wisconsin State Patrol- State Trooper
End of Watch: Saturday August 26, 1972
Biographical Info
Age: 31
Tour of Duty: 6 years
Car Number: 343
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Homicide- Shooting
Date of Incident: Saturday August 26, 1972
Recruit Class: WSPA Class of 1966
Assignment: Fond du Lac
Trooper Pederson was shot and killed in an ambush by a 16-year-old boy. Trooper Pederson had been dispatched to an accident scene and upon arrival located a vehicle in a ditch. As he approached the vehicle the boy, who was hiding at the front of the vehicle, opened fire and fatally wounded Trooper Pederson. The suspect fled, but was later apprehended and sentenced to life. It was determined that Trooper Pederson had issued the boy a citation earlier in the evening, but the boy refused to give a motive as to why he ambushed him.
Trooper Pederson had served with the Wisconsin State Patrol for 6 years and was assigned to District 3. Before that, he had been a police officer in Rhinelander. Donald was 31 years old when he was murdered. Trooper Pederson is greatly missed by all member s of the Wisconsin State Patrol.
Trooper Donald Pederson Memorial Links:
http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/statepatrol/about/memoriam.htm
http://www.odmp.org/officer/10485-trooper-donald-c.-pederson
The corporation is organized and shall be operated exclusively for improvement of the conditions of those employed as Wisconsin Troopers, Inspectors and Police Communication Operators, including supervisors (first line supervisors through superintendent) and retirees, the development of a higher degree of efficiency in such occupation and foster activities which promote law enforcement and public safety and the good of the community.
