George Kaltenberger
Detective Sergeant

George Kaltenberger

Colorado Springs Police Dept. — Colorado Springs, CO
Accident
End of Watch June 12, 1941
Tour of Duty 24 yrs
The Vigil Panel 78 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Sergeant Kaltenberger was accidentally shot in the abdomen. While at work in the city's police station, now the old City Hall building, Detective Kaltenberger's own .45-caliber automatic dislodged from his holster, fell to the floor, and discharged.

He died one day after his 24th anniversary of his appointment to the Colorado Springs Police Department.

Detective Sergeant Kaltenberger was accidentally shot in the abdomen. While at work in the city's police station, now the old City Hall building, Detective Kaltenberger's own .45-caliber automatic dislodged from his holster, fell to the floor, and discharged.

Today as I go through my grandpa and grandmas (George and Ruth Kaltenberger) memorabilia I came across the many articles and pictures of your career and heroism. I was told stories by my grandpa (your son) but never knew the depth of your service. It’s a pleasure to have the opportunity to read and learn about you. Thank you for your service. I attended the 2001 Pikes Peak Peace Officers Memorial Service to honor fallen officers when your name was added and recognized as a fallen officer of Colorado Springs. Your strength, bravery and dedication live on through your family. Continue to rest in peace my dear Great Grandpa.

Lynette Hoogerhyde Colyer Great Granddaughter February 15th, 2025

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CO-3476A84F
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

24 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Sergeant Kaltenberger gave the Colorado Springs Police Department 24 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Colorado Springs community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Kaltenberger.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location Colorado Springs, CO
Platform Identity cspd.elpaso.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 12, 1941
Tour of Duty 24 yrs
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Detective Sergeant George Kaltenberger is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In CO, 101 of 360 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 28.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.9 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.

At Colorado Springs Police Dept., 4 of 13 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30.8% of this agency's fallen.

Colorado Springs Police Dept.
4
of 13 officers
30.8% Accident
CO — Statewide
101
of 360 officers
28.1% Accident
Nationwide
10,088
of 32,508 officers
31% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George Kaltenberger's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How George Kaltenberger Compares

Years of Service
24
This officer
Avg for Accident: 9.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. George Kaltenberger is highlighted in Jun.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
707
May
847
Jun
795
Jul
897
Aug
937
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897