Deputy Sheriff Mike Severson Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin End of Watch: Monday, April 14, 2014

Deputy Sheriff Mike Severson

Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin
End of Watch: Monday, April 14, 2014

Biographical Info

Age: 51
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: April 19, 1991
Weapon Used: Handgun; .32 caliber
Suspect Info: Shot and killed

Agency Contact Information

Sheriff Peter Johnson
Polk County Sheriff’s Office
1005 West Main Street
Suite 900
Balsam Lake, WI 54810
Phone: (715) 485-8300

Deputy Sheriff Mike Severson succumbed to complications of a gunshot wound sustained on April 19th, 1991, as he and Deputy Sherif Allen Albee, of the Burnett County Sheriff’s Office, attempted to arrest a subject wanted for a shooting in Minnesota the previous day.
The subject’s car was located near Webster Elementary School, in Burnett County. Deputy Severson responded to the scene when the Burnett County Sheriff’s Office requested additional assistance.
Several deputies, including Deputy Severson and Deputy Albee, were approaching the subject near the school when the man opened fire with a .32 caliber handgun. Deputy Albee was killed and Deputy Severson suffered a wound to his spinal cord, causing him to become paralyzed from the neck down.
Other deputies returned fire and killed the subject.
Deputy Severson remained paralyzed from the neck down until passing away from complications of the wound on April 14th, 2014

A Polk County, Minn. Sheriff’s deputy who was left paralyzed after being shot by a suspect 23 years ago died on Monday.

Retried Deputy Michael Severson, 51, had served on the St. Croix Falls Planning Commission and often spoke to school groups in the years following the shooting, according to WCCO-TV.

On Apr. 19, 1991, authorities were searching for a man wanted in a shooting the previous night when the suspect opened fire after being ordered to drop his weapon.

Burnett County Deputy Alan Albee was fatally shot and Severson was critically wounded. The suspect, Robert Karl Reineccius was killed after other officers returned fire.

Severson remained paralyzed from the neck down until succumbing to complications from his injuries.

Funeral arrangements are pending.