Vernon C. Rolfs
Agency patch
Trooper

Vernon C. Rolfs

Nebraska State Patrol — Lincoln, NE
Felonious
End of Watch May 30, 1953
Age 38
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Badge 129
The Vigil Panel 89 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper Vernon Rolfs was shot and killed during a traffic stop of a speeding motorist near North Platte, Nebraska.

The suspect was captured hours later, convicted of Trooper Rolfs' murder and subsequently sentenced to life in prison in August of 1953. He died in prison on January 28th, 1989.

Trooper Rolfs had served with the Nebraska State Patrol for three years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NE-5FD945C3
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 Vernon. 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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Rolfs gave the Nebraska State Patrol 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Nebraska. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Rolfs.

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

Agency

Type Highway Patrol
Location Lincoln, NE
Platform Identity nhp.ne.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 30, 1953
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 38
Badge Number 129
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Trooper Vernon C. Rolfs 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 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 64.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Nebraska State Patrol, 5 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Nebraska State Patrol
5
of 15 officers
33.3% Felonious
NE — Statewide
97
of 151 officers
64.2% 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. Vernon C. Rolfs's cause is highlighted.

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

How Vernon C. Rolfs Compares

Age at Death
38
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
3
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Vernon C. Rolfs is highlighted in May.

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. Vernon C. Rolfs was killed by handgun.

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