Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Steve Hensley was shot and killed after being abducted by a suspect he and another officer had been chasing at 1:00 am. The incident began when Officer Hensley and another officer attempted to pull over a speeding motorcycle. When the subject did not stop, a pursuit ensued. When the subject fled into a hayfield at Colorado 92 and Read, the officer pursued the subject on foot. During a foot chase, the suspect overpowered Officer Hensley and forced him to drive to another location while the officer ran to a house to get more help. As he was driving towards Hotchkiss, the subject shot him, and a struggle ensued, causing the vehicle to crash into a ditch. The suspect, 20, was apprehended, and it was discovered that he had a property bond for burglary charges. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was committed at Colorado State Mental Hospital in Pueblo. He was still there on October 21, 2022. Officer Hensley had served with the Delta Police Department for five months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CO-6B0A9ECF- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Hensley served with the Delta Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Delta community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Hensley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Stephen Dale Hensley 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 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 11.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Delta Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Stephen Dale Hensley's cause is highlighted.
How Stephen Dale Hensley Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Stephen Dale Hensley is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Stephen Dale Hensley was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Delta Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
