Madison County Sheriff's Office, Montana
End of Watch: Monday, October 27, 1930
Age: 68
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Date of Incident: October 27, 1930
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Arrested
Sheriff Frank Metzel was shot and killed while intervening in a bank robbery. He had received information that a robbery was going to take place and he, several deputies, and a posse surrounded the bank. They exchanged shots with the suspects as the men attempted to leave the bank. One of the posse members accidentally shot Sheriff Metzel when he mistook him for a robber.
Two of the suspects escaped but the third was arrested inside of the bank.
Sheriff Metzel was survived by his wife and two daughters. He was buried in Nevada City Cemetery in Virginia City.