30 Years Later: St. Joseph Remembers Officer Brian Klinefelter’s Ultimate Sacrifice

Saint Cloud, MN, USA / KNSI

Jan 29, 2026 | 1:33 PM

St. Joseph Police Department

(KNSI) – Thirty years ago today, on January 29, 1996, Officer Brian Klinefelter of the St. Joseph Police Department made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting his community.

Officer Klinefelter was fatally shot while attempting to arrest three suspects who had just robbed a liquor store in Albany. He had stayed on late that day in the off chance he would spot the suspects’ vehicle from the robbery just 15 miles away. The tragic incident unfolded just west of the intersection of County Road 133 on the south side of County Road 75 in St. Joseph.

As Officer Klinefelter approached the suspects’ pickup truck, he was struck by gunfire. His vest stopped two rounds, but two additional bullets struck him in the neck and waist. Despite immediate medical response, he was pronounced dead an hour later.

The incident sparked an intense manhunt. The shooter fled and forced his way into a nearby residence, taking the homeowner hostage. He compelled the victim to drive around police roadblocks before locking him in the trunk of the car. When a Benton County Sheriff’s deputy spotted the vehicle and ordered the armed suspect to surrender, the suspect pointed his weapon at his own head. The deputy fired once, fatally wounding the suspect.

The two remaining suspects were found hiding under a deck and were arrested. They were charged with first-degree murder under Minnesota law, which allows accomplices to be charged with the crime.

Officer Klinefelter’s bravery extended beyond his final day of service. He was posthumously awarded the first-ever Minnesota Medal of Honor for his actions. His wife accepted the award on his behalf.

At the time of his death, Officer Klinefelter had served with the St. Joseph Police Department for two years. He left behind his wife, a three-month-old daughter, his parents, and three siblings.

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