Incident
Trooper James Froemsdorf was shot and killed with his own weapon after making a traffic stop. During the stop, he placed the driver in handcuffs and in the front seat of his cruiser so he could search the vehicle. He located identification and determined that the suspect was wanted on four warrants out of Texas. Meanwhile, the suspect was able to compress his hand, due to an old injury, to the size of his wrist and squeeze out of one of the handcuffs. The suspect then grabbed Trooper Froemsdorf's handgun and shot him several times. The suspect was later apprehended and sentenced to death. He was executed on July 11, 2001. Trooper Froemsdorf was a United States Army Vietnam War Military Police veteran and served with the Missouri State Highway Patrol for nine years, assigned to Troop C.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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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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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 Froemsdorf gave the Missouri State Highway Patrol 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Missouri, 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
James M. Froemsdorf served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Missouri State Highway Patrol has lost 33 officers; 13 of them killed feloniously.
James is one of 527 officers killed feloniously in MO, 63.6% of the 829 remembered there.
James is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
James 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 1985, 2 officers at Missouri State Highway Patrol were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1985, 3 officers in MO were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 146 years on record. The heaviest was 1920, with 16.
In 1985, 99 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 52nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1985, 125 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 46th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
James was 35. Of the 13 killed feloniously at Missouri State Highway Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 37; the middle age was 33. James had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 9 years.
James was 35. Of the 477 killed feloniously in MO whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48; the middle age was 39. James had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
James was 35. 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. James had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
James was 35. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. James had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 15.4% of these deaths at Missouri State Highway Patrol; October holds the most, 23.1%. Saturdays: 15.4%.
March holds 8% of these deaths in MO; December holds the most, 11%. Saturdays: 16.5%.
March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.
March holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 39.4% of all 33 deaths at Missouri State Highway Patrol, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 15.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63.6% of all 829 deaths in MO, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 4.7% 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 officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.2% of these deaths.
His people
Missouri State Highway Patrol has 33 officers remembered here, James among them.
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Benjamin Oliver Booth
Jun 14, 1933
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Fred L. Walker
Dec 3, 1941
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Victor O. Dosing
Dec 7, 1941
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Charles P. Corbin
Sep 15, 1943
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Ross S. Creach
Dec 12, 1943
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John N. Greim
Jul 13, 1945
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Wayne W. Allman
Oct 27, 1955
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Jesse Roger Jenkins
Oct 14, 1969
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Gary Wayne Snodgrass
Feb 21, 1970
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William R. Brandt
Jun 12, 1970
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Dennis Harris Marriott
Jun 13, 1981
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James M. Froemsdorf
Mar 2, 1985
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Jimmie Elliott Linegar
Apr 15, 1985
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Russell Wynn Harper
Feb 8, 1987
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Henry Corwin Bruns
Feb 16, 1987
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Robert Joseph Kolilis
Sep 21, 1988
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Michael Elliott Webster
Oct 2, 1993
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Randy Vincent Sullivan
Feb 17, 1996
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David Cargene May
May 17, 1999
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Robert Gene Kimberling
Oct 6, 1999
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Robert Alton Guilliams
Feb 16, 2001
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Kelly Leland Poynter
Jan 18, 2002
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Michael Lynn Newton
May 22, 2003
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Carl Dewayne Graham, Jr.
Mar 20, 2005
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Ralph Charles Tatoian
Apr 20, 2005
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John Anthony Sampietro, Jr.
Aug 17, 2005
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Donald Kevin Floyd
Sep 22, 2005
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Dennis Edward Engelhard
Dec 25, 2009
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Joseph George Schuengel
Oct 15, 2010
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Frederick Freeman Guthrie, Jr.
Aug 1, 2011
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James Matthew Bava
Aug 28, 2015
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Myron Downey
Sep 29, 2020
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Lonnie Raymond Lejeune
Dec 10, 2021
Military Service
James M. Froemsdorf served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit James M. Froemsdorf’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 12-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
32 officers from Missouri State Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















