Roy O. Downing
Agency patch
Policeman

Roy O. Downing

Denver Police Department — Denver, CO
Felonious
End of Watch December 1, 1920
Age 23
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
The Vigil Panel 40 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Policeman Roy Downing was shot and killed while responding to a burglary at a local residence.

The subject fled the scene and was never apprehended.

Policeman Downing had served with the Denver Police Department for one year.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CO-23DFAEFC
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Roy. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

You barely got started.
Policeman Downing gave the Denver Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Denver community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Downing.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Denver, Denver County, CO
Platform Identity dpd.denver.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 1, 1920
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Age 23
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

Policeman Roy O. Downing 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 Denver Police Department, 55 of 74 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 74.3% of this agency's fallen.

Denver Police Department
55
of 74 officers
74.3% 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. Roy O. Downing's cause is highlighted.

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

How Roy O. Downing Compares

Age at Death
23
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
1
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Roy O. Downing is highlighted in Dec.

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. Roy O. Downing was killed by handgun.

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