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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Earl Bucher was shot and killed on New Year's Eve while responding to the scene of a domestic disturbance near Johnstown in which a man had just shot his wife. As Deputy Bucher approached the house around 12 a.m. just south of current Road 36 and Road 13, the man stuck a shotgun out of the door and shot him in the head. The suspect then stole Deputy Bucher's gun and pinned Deputy Bucher's badge onto his own clothing. He was still wearing the badge when he was located by a posse of nearly a dozen officers and a dozen more civilians in a nearby shanty. The man was shot and killed by the posse in a shootout that lasted more than one hour. Deputy Belcher was a WWI Army veteran.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, his parents, his brother, and his sister.
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. Earl 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.
Deputy Sheriff Bucher served with the Weld County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Greeley community, 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
Earl J. Bucher served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Weld County Sheriff's Office has lost 2 officers; 2 of them killed feloniously.
Earl is one of 236 officers killed feloniously in CO, 65.4% of the 361 remembered there.
Earl is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Earl 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 1940, 4 officers in CO were killed feloniously, the 6th heaviest of 113 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 9.
In 1940, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1940, 226 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 8th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Earl was 45. Of the 184 killed feloniously in CO whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 47; the middle age was 39.
Earl was 45. 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.
Earl was 45. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
December holds 8.9% of these deaths in CO; October holds the most, 11.9%. Tuesdays: 13.6%.
December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 100% of all 2 deaths at Weld County Sheriff's Office. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 50% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 65.4% of all 361 deaths in CO, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, 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 shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 6.3% of these deaths.
His people
Weld County Sheriff's Office has 2 officers remembered here, Earl among them.
Where
Military Service
Earl J. Bucher served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit Earl J. Bucher’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 53-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Weld County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
