Appointed: January 1, 1948
End of Watch: May 11, 1959
On Monday, May 11, 1959, Minneapolis Police Sergeant William F. Herkal, Jr. was shot and killed in the line of duty.
Two men, one who had just been released from a Montana State Prison, attempted an armed robbery of the Red Owl grocery store in the Hi-Lake Shopping Center at 2124 East Lake Street.
A grocery clerk triggered a silent alarm and within minutes Detective Wayne Leonard and Officer Durwood Witt appeared on the scene through the front door of the Red Owl.
Detective Leonard and Officer Witt grappled with the robbers inside the store. One of the robbers, Jerry Gowdy, pulled out a gun. Detective Leonard told him to drop the gun and Gowdy replied that Detective Leonard would have to kill him first. Then, he and Detective Leonard exchanged gunfire.
Gowdy ran out of the store as Sergeant Herkal approached the scene in his squad car along with two other officers. Sergeant Herkal got out of the squad car and before he could raise his gun, Gowdy ran towards him and shot him at near point blank range. Sergeant Herkal died before an ambulance could arrive on the scene.
Sergeant Herkal was 35 years old at the time of his death.
Sergeant Herkal had been a member of the Minneapolis Police Department for eleven years since his appointment on January 1, 1948. He had served in the US Navy during WWII. He loved music.
Funeral services were held for Sergeant Herkal at the Church of St. Helena on May 14, 1949. He was buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Sergeant Herkal was survived by his wife, Marie and their four children: Steven, 8; Charles, 7; Judy, 12; and Susan, 2. He was also survived by his mother and two sisters.
Thank you for remembering my father, who my mother lovingly called Bill. He is missed every day. I pray for all our officers around the country, especially in today’s troubled times. God Bless our men and women in Blue!
Thank you, Susan, for your kind words and prayers. You may know that Minneapolis Police Chief Milton Winslow spoke of your father as “one of the finest men on the force.” I will share that your father played trumpet in the Minneapolis Police Band and that the members of the band – who all thought so highly of your father – held a salute as his flag-draped casket passed before them down the aisle of the church. Your father’s service will never be forgotten and he will always be honored by the Minneapolis Police Department.
Sgt. Herkal was the great uncle of current MPD Homicide Sergeant Michael Heyer. Sgt. Heyer told me several times in the past how his great uncle was one of his inspirations to work for the MPD. I spoke to Sgt. Heyer today about his great Uncle! The memory is honored!
Thank you, Tom, for sharing this. It is wonderful to know that so many people continue to honor Sergeant Herkal’s memory. The 2020 MPD Cadet Class also honored Sergeant Herkal by dedicating their training to his memory. Sergeant Herkal’s integrity and service provided an example for them to follow.