Patrolman Lee Sylvester Murphy

Lee Sylvester Murphy

Patrolman Murphy succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained on June 14th, 1953, when he was shot in the shoulder while questioning a driver he had stopped.

The suspect had stolen the car in Hawthorne and had robbed a Tavern in Amery of $400. Although wounded, Patrolman Murphy chased the suspect into Hudson where the man shot and killed Patrolman Clarence Erickson, of the Hudson Police Department. The suspect shot Patrolman Erickson as he fled from his vehicle at a roadblock. Other officers shot and killed the suspect.

Patrolman Murphy had to undergo several surgeries. He suffered a stroke after one of the surgeries and never recovered.

Patrolman Murphy served with the St. Croix County Traffic Police which was later absorbed into the St. Croix County Sheriff's Office.