Harold Bechtelheimer

Colorado State Patrol — Lakewood, CO

Felonious

End of Watch September 14, 1949

Age 40

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 85 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 29

Incident

Patrolman Harold Bechtelheimer was shot and killed after stopping a vehicle for speeding on Highway 85-87 north of Colorado Springs. Unbeknownst to Patrolman Bechtelheimer, the two occupants had stolen the vehicle earlier in the evening and had robbed a nearby liquor store. Before Patrolman Bechtelheimer caught up to them the men had stopped due to a mechanical problem with the vehicle. One of the suspects was looking underneath the front of the vehicle when Patrolman Bechtelheimer approached and was not observed by Patrolman Bechtelheimer. As he spoke with the driver the second man snuck around the vehicle and stuck a pistol in Patrolman Bechtelheimer's back. Patrolman Bechtelheimer spun around and struck the man with his flashlight before being shot in the chest. Both men, ages 16 and 21, were later apprehended and sentenced to life. On January 24th, 1955, the 16-year-old received another life sentence when he was convicted of stabbing to death a fellow inmate. He was still in prison in 1983. On March 6, 1968, the other man's sentence was commuted to 30 years making him eligible for parole in February 1969. Patrolman Bechtelheimer had served with the Colorado State Patrol for just over four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CO-1C813194
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.
Patrolman Bechtelheimer gave the Colorado State Patrol 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Colorado. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Bechtelheimer.

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

Agency

Department Colorado State Patrol

Location Lakewood, CO

Platform Identity chp.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 14, 1949

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 40

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .32 caliber

Offender robbery

Patrolman Harold Bechtelheimer 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 Colorado State Patrol, 11 of 30 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 36.7% of this agency's fallen.

Colorado State Patrol

of 30 officers

36.7% Felonious

CO — Statewide

235

of 360 officers

65.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious