John E. Braun was a 29-year-old patrolman with the Schofield Police Department in Marathon County, Wisconsin, who died on Monday, December 24, 1979, after an accidental discharge of his service weapon. Accounts say the fatal gunshot occurred while Braun was attempting to repair his firearm, not during an arrest, traffic stop, or confrontation. Law-enforcement memorial records list the cause as inadvertent gunfire and classify the death as an accidental discharge.

A U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam, Braun left behind his wife, parents, a brother, and a sister. His name appears on the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial’s list of fallen officers as the recorded end of watch for the department. No suspect, arrest, or criminal proceedings have been identified in connection with the shooting.

If anyone knew Patrolman Braun or has memories from Schofield in 1979 to share, please contribute what is known.