Summit Township Police Department, Wisconsin
End of Watch: Sunday, January 26, 1975
Age: 52
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Badge Number: 3
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 26, 1975
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Released in 2013
Patrolman Wayne Olson and Patrolman Robert Atkins were shot and killed in front of the police station as they began their shift.
For several days, all shifts had been doubled due to a recent rash of burglaries, including three at the police station. Shortly after midnight, a citizen heard several gunshots in front of the city hall. At approximately 4:00 a.m. units began looking for the officers who failed to respond to radio calls.
Patrolman Olson's body was located behind some bushes in front of town hall, and Patrolman Atkins' body was found in the woods just south of town hall. An all-day search led officers to the home of a 16-year-old boy. Evidence of the burglaries and murders was found in his bedroom. The suspect was declared insane and committed to a mental institution. He was released in 2013.
Patrolman Olson served with the Summit Township Police Department for two years. He was survived by his wife and daughter.