Roll of Honor

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City Marshal

Charles Emerson

Alamosa Police Department — Alamosa, CO

Felonious

End of Watch January 21, 1895

Age 39

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

The Vigil Panel 13 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

City Marshal Charles Emerson was shot and killed while arresting two men for stealing a load of oats from a ranch. Marshal Emerson and the two suspects got onto a wagon to proceed to a barn for the investigation. The lead horses refused to move so the two suspects got off the wagon to try to lead the horses. At that moment one of the men took a gun from the second man. Seeing this, Marshal Emerson drew his weapon and exchanged shots with the man. Marshal Emerson was fatally wounded and succumbed to his wounds two days later. The shooter was convicted of Marshal Emerson's murder and hanged on December 13, 1895. The other suspect, 17, was convicted of murder and sent to prison.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CO-ED3BB373
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

131 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
City Marshal Emerson gave the Alamosa Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Alamosa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Alamosa Police Department

Location Alamosa, CO

Platform Identity apd.alamosa.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 21, 1895

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Executed in 1895

City Marshal Charles Emerson 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 Alamosa Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Alamosa Police Department

of 2 officers

50% 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. Charles Emerson'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 Charles Emerson 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

Executed in 1895

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Emerson is highlighted in Jan.

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. Charles Emerson 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

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Alamosa Police Department are honored on badge.nw.