Minneapolis Police History
By Bill Whisney, MPOF Board of Directors
August 17, 1957, Officers Ward Canfield and Robert Fossum were assigned to the 5th Precinct. While on patrol, officers observed a stolen vehicle traveling southbound on Lyndale from 31st St. Officers gave chase; the chase continued southbound on Lyndale to 33rd St., then east on 33rd St. to Blaisdell, then south on Blaisdell. Officers lost radio contact between 33rd St. and 38th St. as they were exchanging shots with the suspects in the stolen vehicle.
Other squads had been paralleling the case and had made repeated attempts to make contact, but were unable to do so. At 8:45 p.m. the radio dispatcher came on the air and stated, "Accident at 39th St. which might be them."
Officers R. Nelson and P. Olsen, Squad 151, responded from 39th and Grand Ave. South. When officers Nelson and Olsen arrived, they found Officer Fossum lying in the street on West 39th St. between Van Ness and Blaisdell. According to Officer Nelson's statement, Fossum was bleeding profusely from the head and appeared in bad shape. According to a witness, Off. Fossum had been shot through the head while lying on the pavement after having been previously shot.
Officer Canfield, who had been on the other side of the squad with his shotgun pointed at the three suspects as though he wanted them to surrender, at this time was immediately shot down. After Canfield went down, one of the suspects ran up to Canfield and took the shotgun that was lying beside him and the suspects ran towards the car. Prior to the suspects leaving the scene, one of them shot Officer Fossum again.
As the suspects left the scene of the shootout, they ran over Officer. Canfield, who was lying in the street, after running over Canfield, they backed up and ran over him again, dragging him down the street for 30 feet, then exiting the area.
Little did these officers realize that when this chase started, they were dealing with three suspects who were out to murder in cold blood anyone who got in their way that evening. The suspects had intended to rob a Red Owl store in the 5th precinct before these two officers spotted their vehicle. When the suspect vehicle was towed and an inventory was completed, property seized from inside included one steel plate measuring V by 4' in length and width.
During the course of the chase and when shots were exchanged, all the shots fired by the, officers were absorbed in the steel plate behind the front seat; the back window was practically shot out
These suspects were heavily armed with a Savage 3 00 rifle, a .45 cal. auto, and a .38 armor piercing bullets; needless to say, the officers were outgunned from the beginning to the tragic end for Off. Fossum, and the long and painful recovery of Officer Canfield.
Sept. 14, 1957, Carlos Avery Game Farm, Anoka County, is where the end came for two of the three suspects involved in this brutal and cold-blooded incident. The suspects had been identified as the O'Kasick brothers, James, Roger, and Ronald. Earlier in the day, these suspects had kidnapped a farmer in Anoka County and forced him at gunpoint to take them so their escape would be furthered with a hostage, While in the process of escaping, they ran out of gas. One of the brothers went to get gas as the two others remained with the hostage. When Ronald came-back with the gas, his brother James, who had been hiding in the back seat of the farmer's car, looked up and saw his brother with handcuffs on. He had been arrested by an Anoka County deputy sheriff and was leading the sheriff back to them. At this time, the two brothers in the car exited and began to run for the thick underbrush.
The sheriffs deputy called for help and at this time, he was shot in the ankle; the hostage was also shot. The brothers made it to the underbrush and as other officers converged on the game area, James was spotted by officers and at this time shot himself. His two brothers were both subsequently shot and killed. James, who was in critical condition, was taken from the game farm and transported to the old Minneapolis General Hospital. While en route to the hospital, the chief of the New Brighton Police Department was in the ambulance, 'trying to give James oxygen. James fought the mask and stated that he had something to say. He at this time stated that he had shot someone. The Chief asked if it was one of the Minneapolis police officers, Canfield and Fossum. James repeated four times that he had shot someone. The Chief asked him if he shot Fossum. He said no; the Chief asked if he had shot Canfield and he said yes.
Ronald and Roger O'Kasick died that day at the Carlos Avery Game Farm after a shootout with officers from the Minneapolis Police Department, the State Highway Patrol, Anoka County Sheriffs Department, and the Saint Paul Police Department.
James O'Kasick was indicted for 1st degree murder, kidnapping and attempted first degree murder. James O'Kasick did not live to stand trial; he died as a result of injuries that were self-inflicted.
It's been 35 years since this shootout occurred. Officer Canfield survived the incident, but not without injuries, both mentally and physically. This man is a true hero; he has raised a family, has one son on the department, Off. Greg Canfield, who works in the Tracker Section of Support Services.
Ward Canfield has gone through 50 operations since Aug. 17, 1957. As a result of this incident, Ward spent 9 months in the hospital and lost his left leg and now wears an artificial leg. He is paralyzed in the left arm and cannot use his left hand at all. This man has known adversity in his life time---being shot on duty and losing his daughter to polio when she was 5 years old. He says it isn't easy to get up in the morning when the pain is there.
Ward, we take our hats off to you, for many of us may never be in the same position you and Off. Fossum were in August of 1957. We all owe you a great debt of appreciation for the service to the citizens of Minneapolis, and for your bravery over the years in the face of constant pain and suffering. YOU are indeed a HERO.
Ward's advice to the street officer out there today is to watch yourself and be extremely careful. Those of you, who have partners, be sure that you watch out for each other.
Ward Canfield was honored by the Department when he received a Medal of Valor, and he also received the distinction from the International Association of the Chiefs of Police.
Writer's Note: I did try to get this article written for the August edition of the Show- Up, but due to the mounds of paperwork that was generated through the department and the information that available through the various news sources, the article took longer than anticipated. I would like to thank Retired Deputy Chief Leonard Brucciani, Lt. Gary McGaughey, Bev Johnson, Sgt. Bill Heinz, and Off. Bernie Schumann for the information in putting "a article together.
Also, a special thank you to Ward Canfield, with whom I spoke with in regards to this article. I know that it wasn't an easy thing to do, and I appreciated the chance to speak with you.
