William James Truesdale

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office — Golden, CO

Felonious

End of Watch June 18, 1986

Age 53

The Vigil Panel 131 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Deputy Truesdale was shot and killed while moonlighting at Citywide Bank of Lakewood at on south Wadsworth Boulevard. Two armed suspects entered the bank and were immediately confronted by Deputy Truesdale. Both suspects had previously been incarcerated in the Jefferson County Jail where Deputy Truesdale served as a detentions deputy. One of the suspects opened fire, fatally wounding him. Both suspects were later arrested and sentenced to life. Deputy Truesdale was survived by his wife and three children. He was killed on his anniversary, two months before he planned to retire.

Survivors

Deputy Truesdale was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CO-165DDFAC
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.
Deputy Sheriff Truesdale served with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Golden community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Truesdale.

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

Agency

Department Jefferson County Sheriff's Office

Location Golden, CO

Platform Identity jcso.jefferson.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 18, 1986

Age 53

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to life

Deputy Sheriff William James Truesdale 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 Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office

of 6 officers

50% Felonious

CO — Statewide

235

of 360 officers

65.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious