Roll of Honor
Donald Robert Laabs
Incident
Detective Sergeant Donald Laabs was shot and killed while returning home in his cruiser. Witnesses observed him exit the highway in the direction he would normally travel home. Approximately two hours later, he was found shot to death in his police vehicle in the southbound lanes of I-25, near Arvada Street, in Colorado Springs. He had been shot eight times with a .22 caliber handgun. Detective Laabs was a United States Army veteran. He worked as an undercover narcotics officer with the Manitou Springs Police Department. He was survived by his wife and two young sons. On the day of his death, he had been promoted to detective sergeant in the Manitou Springs Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two young sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CO-9EA3C8AB- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Detective Sergeant Laabs served with the Manitou Springs Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Manitou Springs community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Donald Robert Laabs served in the Army (1964â1967) before joining law enforcement.
Detective Sergeant Donald Robert Laabs 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Donald Robert Laabs's cause is highlighted.
How Donald Robert Laabs Compares
Offender Outcome
Case remains unsolved
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Donald Robert Laabs is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Donald Robert Laabs was killed by handgun; .22 caliber.