Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrol Officer Eli Colonroche succumbed to injuries sustained at about 9:30 am while participating in a training exercise at the Central Carolina Community College.
He and several other officers were descending a four-story rappelling tower when he collided with the tower's third story. He continued his descent to the ground where he was evaluated by other officers. He was transported to a local hospital where it was determined he was suffering from internal bleeding. He was flown to UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill where he passed away at about 6:00 pm.
Officer Colonroche was a United States Army veteran who had served with the Sanford Police Department for nine years and had previously served as a U.S. Army MP for 22 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-72F06771- 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.
Patrol Officer Colonroche gave the Sanford Police Department 31 years.
Thank you for your service to the Sanford community. Thank you 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
Elieser "Eli" Colonroche served in the Army (1979â1999) before joining law enforcement.
Patrol Officer Elieser "Eli" Colonroche is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NC, 205 of 664 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30.9% of this state's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Elieser "Eli" Colonroche's cause is highlighted.
How Elieser "Eli" Colonroche Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Elieser "Eli" Colonroche is highlighted in Jul.