Paul Burgess Whitehead

Lincoln Police Department — Lincoln, NE

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch August 10, 1967

Age 30

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 102 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 7

Incident

Detective Whitehead was shot and killed after he and another officer stopped a suspicious vehicle near the intersection of 37th Street and O Street. Unbeknownst to the officers the vehicle was stolen and the three occupants were escaped convicts from Indiana. As they approached the vehicle one of the suspects opened fire with a shotgun, mortally wounding Detective Whitehead. Detective Whitehead was able to return fire and wound one of the suspects. All three were apprehended and sentenced to life. One was paroled October 9, 1987. Another one died in prison May 11, 1989. Detective Whitehead was a U.S Navy veteran and had served with the Lincoln Police Department for four years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NE-22521618
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

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.
Detective Whitehead gave the Lincoln Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lincoln 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

Department Lincoln Police Department

Location Lincoln, NE

Platform Identity lpd.lancaster.ne.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 10, 1967

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 30

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Military Service

Paul Burgess Whitehead served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Detective Paul Burgess Whitehead is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NE, 97 of 151 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.2% of this state's fallen. That is 10 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Lincoln Police Department, 4 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Lincoln Police Department

of 8 officers

50% Felonious

NE — Statewide

of 151 officers

64.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious