Daniel Ralph Stillwell
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Daniel Ralph Stillwell

Felonious
End of Watch September 6, 1987
Age 27
The Vigil Panel 132 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Daniel Stillwell was shot and killed with his own weapon after being disarmed by a prisoner at Denver General Hospital. He was assigned to hospital security at the time an inmate was brought in to be examined. While in the examination room the inmate began to scream. Deputy Stillwell entered the room and was disarmed by the man who shot him several times and took his handcuff keys. The subject fled the hospital but was captured by security guards.

Survivors

Deputy Stillwell was survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CO-4E981DA1
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 Stillwell served with the Denver Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Denver community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Stillwell.

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

Agency

Location Denver, CO
Platform Identity dso.denver.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 6, 1987
Age 27
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun
Offender Sentenced to life

Deputy Sheriff Daniel Ralph Stillwell 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 Denver Sheriff's Department, 2 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 28.6% of this agency's fallen.

Denver Sheriff's Department
2
of 7 officers
28.6% Felonious
CO — Statewide
235
of 360 officers
65.3% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Daniel Ralph Stillwell's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Daniel Ralph Stillwell Compares

Age at End of Watch
27
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Daniel Ralph Stillwell is highlighted in Sep.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Daniel Ralph Stillwell was killed by officer's handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location