Richard C. Edstrom
Agency patch
Corporal

Richard C. Edstrom

Colorado State Patrol — Lakewood, CO
Felonious
End of Watch October 28, 1959
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
The Vigil Panel 94 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Corporal Richard Edstrom succumbed to gunshot wounds received over one month earlier in Durango while attempting to apprehend three escaped convicts from New Mexico. During the initial chase the suspect vehicle was stopped and two suspects immediately gave up. The third suspect ran through a cafe onto another street where he was confronted by Corporal Edstrom. During the ensuing gun battle the suspect was shot and killed and Corporal Edstrom was shot two times. He later succumbed to those wounds. Corporal Edstrom had served with the Colorado State Patrol for just eight years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CO-E903C832
Stewardship
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Corporal Edstrom gave the Colorado State Patrol 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Colorado. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Edstrom.

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

Agency

Type Highway Patrol
Location Lakewood, CO
Platform Identity chp.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 28, 1959
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Corporal Richard C. Edstrom is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In CO, 235 of 360 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.3% of this state's fallen. That is 65.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Colorado State Patrol, 11 of 30 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 36.7% of this agency's fallen.

Colorado State Patrol
11
of 30 officers
36.7% Felonious
CO — Statewide
235
of 360 officers
65.3% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard C. Edstrom's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Richard C. Edstrom Compares

Years of Service
8
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard C. Edstrom is highlighted in Oct.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard C. Edstrom was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location