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Incident
Trooper Irving Nelson was shot and killed while chasing two armed robbery suspects near Pomfret, Connecticut. Around 6:50 p.m., Trooper Nelson was responding on his police motorcycle from Station 5 to assist other officers. Trooper Nelson located the car and initiated a pursuit. During the pursuit, the suspects opened fire on him, striking him twice. Trooper Nelson was able to stop his motorcycle before collapsing and succumbing to the gunshot wounds. Both suspects were members of a gang that had perpetrated a series of robberies in West Springfield, Massachusetts, and were escaping from the police of that city at the time Trooper Nelson tried to halt them. Both suspects were arrested six days later and charged with first-degree murder. They were each found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. On January 4, 1930, one of the suspects, along with two other men, escaped from the Connecticut State Prison. On January 19, 1930, they shot and killed Officer Willie D. Smith of the Jacksonville, Florida, Police Department and seriously wounded another officer as they attempted to question them. All three men were apprehended a few days later in Florida. Trooper Irving was a US Army veteran of WWI and served with the Connecticut State Police for four years. He was survived by his expectant wife and son. In 2025, a section of Route 97 was renamed the Irving Nelson Memorial Roadway in his honor.
Survivors
He was survived by his expectant wife and son.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Irving is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Trooper Nelson gave the Connecticut State Police 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Connecticut, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Irving H. Nelson served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Connecticut State Police has lost 26 officers; 8 of them killed feloniously.
Irving is one of 74 officers killed feloniously in CT, 43.8% of the 169 remembered there.
Irving is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Irving is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1928, 1 officer at Connecticut State Police was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1928, 1 officer in CT was killed feloniously, the 10th heaviest of 62 years on record. The heaviest was 1935, with 4.
In 1928, 201 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 13th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1928, 202 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 15th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Irving was 30. Of the 8 killed feloniously at Connecticut State Police whose age is recorded, half were between 30.8 and 34.8; the middle age was 32.5. Irving had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Irving was 30. Of the 70 killed feloniously in CT whose age is recorded, half were between 34 and 46.5; the middle age was 39. Irving had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 10.5 years.
Irving was 30. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Irving had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Irving was 30. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Irving had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 12.5% of these deaths at Connecticut State Police; February holds the most, 25%. Fridays: 37.5%.
April holds 6.8% of these deaths in CT; May holds the most, 13.5%. Fridays: 14.9%.
April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
April holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 30.8% of all 26 deaths at Connecticut State Police, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 25% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 43.8% of all 169 deaths in CT, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 27% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Connecticut State Police has 26 officers remembered here, Irving among them.
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Pearle E. Roberts
Nov 25, 1922
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Bartholomew M. Skelly
Nov 14, 1925
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Irving H. Nelson
Apr 6, 1928
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Lloyd J. Eukers
Jul 21, 1928
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Stanley C. Hellberg
Jun 1, 1929
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Leonard H. Watson
Oct 22, 1932
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Charles F. Hill
Nov 6, 1941
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Edward P. Jesmonth
Jul 20, 1943
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Kenneth W. Stevens
Jun 6, 1944
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Frank A. Starkel
Jul 19, 1948
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Ernest J. Morse
Feb 13, 1953
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James W. Lambert
Oct 29, 1960
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Joseph M. Stoba, Jr.
Aug 6, 1962
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Carl P. Moller
Feb 13, 1976
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Thomas F. Carney
Dec 6, 1982
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James H. Savage
Jan 22, 1986
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Jorge Antonio Agosto
Nov 22, 1989
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Russell A. Bagshaw
Jun 5, 1991
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Edward W. Truelove
Nov 13, 1992
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Phillip A. Mingione
May 25, 1994
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Kenneth Ray Hall
Sep 2, 2010
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Kevin Michael Miller
Mar 29, 2018
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Walter Greene, Jr.
May 31, 2018
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Eugene Kenneth Baron, Jr.
May 25, 2020
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Brian Erik Mohl
Sep 2, 2021
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Aaron Pelletier
May 30, 2024
Where
Military Service
Irving H. Nelson served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit Irving H. Nelson’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 50-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
25 officers from Connecticut State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
