ThinBlueNews Memorial Wall

Deputy Sheriff Katherine Frank

Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office
End of Watch: Monday, October 12, 2026

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — ThinBlueNews remembers Deputy Sheriff Katherine Frank of the Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office, whose End of Watch was Monday, October 12, 2026. She was 26.

The Officer Down Memorial Page classifies Frank's line-of-duty death as gunfire. ODMP records that she succumbed to injuries sustained after being shot while responding to a call in Sioux Falls on October 9.

Shot while responding to a call

The Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office briefing reported by KELOLAND said three deputies responded near the 2900 block of South Keyrell Drive at approximately 7:30 p.m. Friday. Officials said shots were fired at approximately 8:02 p.m., striking a deputy and a suspect. Medical aid was rendered at the scene and both were taken to hospitals.

In its October 12 release, the Sheriff's Office identified the wounded deputy as Katherine Ann Frank and announced that she died at a Sioux Falls hospital that morning from the injuries she sustained in the line of duty.

Service to South Dakota and Minnehaha County

The Sheriff's Office said Frank began her public-safety career as a correctional officer at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in September 2022 and joined the Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office in June 2024. A September 2024 South Dakota Attorney General release lists Katherine Frank of the Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office among the graduates of the state's 191st Basic Law Enforcement Certification Course.

The agency remembered her honorable service, laughter and the joy she brought to others. ThinBlueNews extends condolences to her family, friends, colleagues and the Minnehaha County community.

Investigation and case status

Officials said the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation was called to investigate the officer-involved shooting. The Argus Leader reported that a 39-year-old man was charged with attempted murder of a law-enforcement officer and aggravated assault of a law-enforcement officer. Those allegations are pending, and the accused is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

ThinBlueNews is not assigning motive, fault or a final classification beyond information released by authorities and ODMP. This stable memorial will be updated if investigating authorities release materially new verified findings.

Deputy Sheriff Katherine Frank is remembered for honorable service, courage in answering the call, and the family, colleagues and community who now carry her memory.

End of Watch

Deputy Sheriff Katherine Frank
Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office
South Dakota
End of Watch: Monday, October 12, 2026
Age: 26
Minnehaha County service: June 2024–October 2026
Prior service: South Dakota State Penitentiary correctional officer
Cause listed by ODMP: Gunfire
Investigation: South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation

Sources and visual note

Visual note: The image is a 2009 contextual photograph of the Sioux Falls Law Enforcement Center by Wikimedia Commons contributor AlexiusHoratius, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. ThinBlueNews cropped the photograph, added a memorial treatment and labels, and releases this adapted memorial image under CC BY-SA 3.0. It does not depict Deputy Frank or the October 2026 incident. Use does not imply endorsement by the photographer, Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons, the Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office or the Sioux Falls Police Department.

ThinBlueNews will update this stable memorial if authorities release materially new verified information. Corrections may be submitted through our corrections and editorial standards page.