South Dakota Highway Patrol, South Dakota
End of Watch: Tuesday, March 9, 1976
Age:
Tour of Duty: 6 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: March 9, 1976
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Not available
Patrolman Verlyn Mettler was shot and killed in his front yard, in Chamberlin, by a suspect he had arrested on an earlier date.
He was backing away from his home when the suspect, who had been parked in a nearby alley, pulled alongside his car and shot him twice through the window. The suspect then fled to Oacoma where he committed suicide.
Patrolman Mettler had served with agency for six years. He was survived by his wife and two daughters.