Thief River Falls Police Department, Minnesota
End of Watch: Monday, January 28, 1974
Age: 35
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Aircraft accident
Date of Incident: January 28, 1974
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Chief of Police Roy Pederson was killed in an aircraft accident while he and two members of the city council were en route to Owatonna to inspect law enforcement facilities at 7:50 a.m. The two council members and the pilot were also killed.
The snowstorm contributed to the plane crash 2 miles northwest of Winger.
Chief Pederson was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Thief River Falls Police Department for ten years. He was serving as the chief for four months. He was survived by his wife and daughter.