Duty of Care

On Monday, October 12, 2026, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Deputy Katherine Frank, 26, died at a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, hospital from injuries sustained when she was shot Friday, October 9, while responding to a call for service, the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office confirmed as reported by the Mitchell Republic / Sioux Falls Live.

Frank and two other deputies had responded to the 2900 block of South Keyrell Drive. Roughly 30 minutes after arrival, shots were fired and at least one bullet struck Frank. A suspect, Brandon Oetken, 39, of Sioux Falls, was also shot; Minnehaha County State’s Attorney Daniel Haggar said a complaint charging him with attempted first-degree murder of law enforcement and aggravated assault against law enforcement had been drafted, and stronger charges were expected after Frank’s death. The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation. Frank had about two years and four months with the sheriff’s office.

For law enforcement agencies, the defenses this points to are getting and sharing caller and address history before arrival, staging and waiting for backup on high-risk calls when time allows, approaching from cover, body armor and trauma kits on every officer, and a plan to rescue and treat a wounded officer quickly.

• Mitchell Republic / Sioux Falls Live