Roll of Honor

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Chief of Police

Richard W. Ware

Evans Police Department — Evans, CO

Felonious

End of Watch September 21, 1953

Age 51

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 89 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Chief Ware was shot and killed at his home by a man who was upset about receiving a ticket for driving without registration. When Chief Ware opened his door the man produced a gun and shot him in the head and back.

Despite being mortally wounded, Chief Ware was able to grab his gun and fatally shot the suspect.

Chief Ware had served with the agency for 4 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and six children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CO-B5ABC230
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.
Chief of Police Ware gave the Evans Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Evans community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Ware.

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

Agency

Department Evans Police Department

Location Evans, CO

Platform Identity epd.weld.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 21, 1953

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 51

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Chief of Police Richard W. Ware 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%.

Evans Police Department

of 1 officers

100% 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. Richard W. Ware'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 Richard W. Ware Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard W. Ware 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. Richard W. Ware was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518