Gary Dale Mills

Boulder Police Department — Boulder, CO

Felonious

End of Watch August 26, 1973

Age 26

The Vigil Panel 112 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Officer Gary Mills was shot and killed as he and another officer were leaving the scene of a domestic disturbance call in a local trailer park. A man with no connection to the initial call came out of a nearby trailer and opened fire with a 12-gauge shotgun, striking Officer Mills in the back. A reserve officer with Officer Mills returned fire and wounded the suspect before arresting him. Officer Mills was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds while in surgery. On April 2, 1974, the suspect, 25, was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 40 years.

Survivors

Officer Mills was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CO-19BC2B85
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 Mills served with the Boulder Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Boulder community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Mills.

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

Agency

Department Boulder Police Department

Location Boulder, CO

Platform Identity bpd.boulder.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 26, 1973

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun; 12 gauge

Offender Sentenced to 40 years

Officer Gary Dale Mills 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 Boulder Police Department, 5 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.

Boulder Police Department

of 7 officers

71.4% Felonious

CO — Statewide

235

of 360 officers

65.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious