Isanti Police Department, Minnesota
End of Watch: Thursday, December 23, 1926
Age: 49
Tour of Duty: 1 year
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: December 21, 1926
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Marshal Frank Dahlin was shot and killed when he interrupted a burglary at a potato warehouse.
He was shot twice during an exchange of gunfire with the suspects. He succumbed to his wounds two days later. One of the suspects was also shot and wounded.
Two men were arrested four months later and charged with Marshal Dahlin's murder. Both were wanted for several robberies in neighboring counties and the murder of a cashier during a bank robbery in Weelock, North Dakota, that occurred on November 12th, 1926. On May 14th, 1927, both were convicted of Marshal Dahlin's murder and sentenced to life in prison. One was paroled on January 24th, 1949, after being diagnosed with severe heart problems. The other suspect was transferred to St. Peter Insane Asylum where on June 8, 1936, he escaped with 15 other inmates. The 15 other inmates were either killed or recaptured including the leader of the escapees who was a member of the "Barker Karpis Gang", who was shot and killed. On February 2, 1937, Marshal Dahlin"s killer was one of eight men killed in a train accident in San Bernardino, California.
Marshal Dahlin had served with the Isanti Police Department for one year. He was survived by his wife and stepson.