Trooper Verlyn LaMonte "Monte" Mettler, South Dakota Highway Patrol, South Dakota

Trooper Verlyn LaMonte "Monte" Mettler

South Dakota Highway Patrol, South Dakota

End of Watch Tuesday, March 9, 1976

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Verlyn LaMonte "Monte" Mettler

Patrolman Monte Mettler was shot and killed in his front yard in Chamberlin by a suspect he had arrested on an earlier date.

At 2:00 p.m., 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 was a United States Army veteran and had served with the South Dakota Highway Patrol for 13 years. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, his mother, and two sisters.

Bio

Age 34
Tour 13 years
Badge Not available
Military Veteran

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Committed suicide

retaliation

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I am Mark Mettler of Statesboro GA. I am son of Harlan Mettler (d.) and lived in California at the time of his death. My dad and I attended the memorial at the time. Dad was very shaken by his death and I later became a policeman as well, but leaving LE after four years because of incidents such as this. I am visiting SD now 50 years later with my wife to show her family. Hope to meet up in heaven with this cousin.

Mark Mettler
Second cousin

August 14, 2025