Forrest E. Sawyer

Denver Police Department — Denver, CO

Felonious

End of Watch March 8, 1937

The Vigil Panel 72 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 73

Incident

Patrolman Sawyer was shot and killed by a man who had called the police station and requested to be arrested because he was a madman. The suspect's real intention was to ambush the officers when they arrived. When Patrolman Sawyer and his partner approached the house the suspect swung the door open and opened fire, fatally wounding Patrolman Sawyer. The man then committed suicide.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CO-5F991820
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 Sawyer served with the Denver Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Denver community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Sawyer.

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

Agency

Department Denver Police Department

Location Denver, CO

Platform Identity dpd.denver.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 8, 1937

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Committed suicide

Patrolman Forrest E. Sawyer 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 Police Department, 55 of 74 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 74.3% of this agency's fallen.

Denver Police Department

of 74 officers

74.3% Felonious

CO — Statewide

235

of 360 officers

65.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious