Sumner Whitney
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Sumner Whitney

Summit County Sheriff's Office — Breckenridge, CO
Felonious
End of Watch September 7, 1898
Age 41
The Vigil Panel 15 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Sumner Whitney and Deputy Ernest Conrad were shot and killed while attempting to arrest a gang of men who had robbed a hotel and several prominent citizens. Deputy Conrad was deputized by the Summit County sheriff in order to arrest the men at their remote cabin in Kokomo, Colorado. When Deputy Conrad arrived in town he deputized Sumner Whitney to help with the arrest. After gaining entry to the cabin the deputies ordered the men to return the stolen property, but were instead engaged in a gun battle. Deputy Conrad was shot and killed instantly and Deputy Whitney succumbed to his wounds several weeks later. Two of the robbers were also shot and killed, but the leader of the gang escaped. The leader of the gang was eventually apprehended and imprisoned until his death in 1931.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CO-46BF5D53
Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

128 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Whitney served with the Summit County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Breckenridge community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Breckenridge, Summit County, CO
Platform Identity scso.summit.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 7, 1898
Age 41
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Deputy Sheriff Sumner Whitney 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 Summit County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Summit County Sheriff's Office
2
of 2 officers
100% 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. Sumner Whitney's cause is highlighted.

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

How Sumner Whitney Compares

Age at Death
41
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Sumner Whitney is highlighted in Sep.

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. Sumner Whitney was killed by gun.

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

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Summit County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.