Irving H. Nelson

Connecticut State Police — Middletown, CT

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch April 6, 1928

Age 30

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 55 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 25

Incident

Trooper Irving Nelson was shot and killed while chasing two armed robbery suspects near Pomfret, Connecticut. Around 6:50 p.m., Trooper Nelson was responding on his police motorcycle from Station 5 to assist other officers. Trooper Nelson located the car and initiated a pursuit. During the pursuit, the suspects opened fire on him, striking him twice. Trooper Nelson was able to stop his motorcycle before collapsing and succumbing to the gunshot wounds. Both suspects were members of a gang that had perpetrated a series of robberies in West Springfield, Massachusetts, and were escaping from the police of that city at the time Trooper Nelson tried to halt them. Both suspects were arrested six days later and charged with first-degree murder. They were each found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. On January 4, 1930, one of the suspects, along with two other men, escaped from the Connecticut State Prison. On January 19, 1930, they shot and killed Officer Willie D. Smith of the Jacksonville, Florida, Police Department and seriously wounded another officer as they attempted to question them. All three men were apprehended a few days later in Florida. Trooper Irving was a US Army veteran of WWI and served with the Connecticut State Police for four years. He was survived by his expectant wife and son. In 2025, a section of Route 97 was renamed the Irving Nelson Memorial Roadway in his honor.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CT-485DCCC3
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.
Trooper Nelson gave the Connecticut State Police 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Connecticut, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Connecticut State Police

Location Middletown, CT

Platform Identity csp.ct.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 6, 1928

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 30

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to life

Military Service

Irving H. Nelson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Trooper Irving H. Nelson 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 CT, 74 of 169 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 43.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Connecticut State Police, 8 of 26 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.8% of this agency's fallen.

Connecticut State Police

of 26 officers

30.8% Felonious

CT — Statewide

of 169 officers

43.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious