Officer Larry D. Minard, Sr., Omaha Police Department, Nebraska

Officer Larry D. Minard, Sr.

Omaha Police Department, Nebraska

End of Watch Monday, August 17, 1970

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Larry D. Minard, Sr.

Officer Larry Minard was killed when a booby-trapped briefcase with three sticks of dynamite exploded at a house at Ohio Street and North 28th Avenue.

The briefcase was found on the floor of a vacant house and exploded as Officer Minard attempted to move it. Seven other officers were injured in the incident.

Three suspects were members of the Black Panthers and had lured the officers to the home with a 911 call. Two of the subjects were convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. One of the convicted men died in prison in March 2016 and the second died in prison in December 2023. Murder charges were dismissed against the 15-year-old suspect after he testified against the two adults and provided other information to authorities.

Officer Minard had served with the Omaha Polie Department for seven years. He was survived by his wife and five children.

The Black Panthers is a racist, radical group that professed the murders of law enforcement officers. Members and former members of the group were responsible for the murders of at least 15 law enforcement officers and the wounding of dozens more across the nation.

Bio

Age 29
Tour 7 years
Badge 248

Incident Details

Cause Bomb
Weapon Explosives; Bomb
Offender Sentenced to life

ambush

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Officer Minard: As I work on a screenplay about your murder - a story that has never been told before in print or video - I had the pleasure of talking to your fellow officers there with you that terrible night, as well as several of your wonderful children. Every one of them suffers from painful emotions that haunt their dreams. For your family the pain of your death is as as raw today as it was that awful night.

It disgusts me that some in the community are blatantly lying about the guilt of the perpetrators in order to commute the surviving killer's prison sentence on humanitarian grounds because he has served a lengthy sentence. There were no humanitarian sentiments towards you, your fellow police officers, your family or the community when the cowardly perpetrators planted their booby-trapped suitcase and lured you and your brother officers into their deadly trap by a fake call of a woman in distress.

Even though fifty years have passed since your murder the community still cares and appreciates your sacrifice and that of your fellow officers and especially your family. May the Lord hold you and keep you. Rest in peace.

Captain Dean Olson
Douglas County Sheriff's Department, Omaha, NE

June 15, 2021