Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Town Marshal

Jacob Neitzling

Columbia Falls Police Department — Columbia Falls, MT

Felonious

End of Watch April 19, 1931

Age 54

The Vigil Panel 61 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Marshal Jacob Neitzling was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a 60 year old man wanted for criminal mischief. The suspect had attempted to derail a train near Coram by placing a steel bar on the track. Marshal Neitzling, along with two other officers, was trying to coax the suspect to come out of his house when he shot the Marshal from a window. The suspect then shot and killed himself.

Survivors

Marshal Neitzling was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MT-3283FA6C
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Jacob. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Town Marshal Neitzling served with the Columbia Falls Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Columbia Falls community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Town Marshal Neitzling.

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

Agency

Department Columbia Falls Police Department

Location Columbia Falls, MT

Platform Identity cfpd.flathead.mt.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 19, 1931

Age 54

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Committed suicide

Town Marshal Jacob Neitzling 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 MT, 93 of 142 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.5% of this state's fallen. That is 11.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Columbia Falls Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Columbia Falls Police Department

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

MT — Statewide

of 142 officers

65.5% 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. Jacob Neitzling'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 Jacob Neitzling Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Committed suicide

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jacob Neitzling is highlighted in Apr.

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. Jacob Neitzling 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 Columbia Falls Police Department are honored on badge.nw.