Roll of Honor

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Officer

Albert L. Colson

Exeter Police Department — Exeter, NH

Felonious

End of Watch July 3, 1924

Age 55

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 47 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Officer Albert Colson was shot and killed when he attempted to quell a disturbance being caused by several boys near an elderly man's home on Franklin Street in Exeter. The boys were there, teasing the homeowner. As Officer Colson attempted to take a weapon away from the homeowner, he and another man were shot and killed with a second gun that he had not seen. The 74-year-old suspect was arrested, charged with murder, and sent to prison, where he died in 1928. Officer Colson had served with the Exeter Police Department for ten years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NH-6CCF8487
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.
Officer Colson gave the Exeter Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Exeter community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Colson.

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

Agency

Department Exeter Police Department

Location Exeter, NH

Platform Identity epd.rockingham.nh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 3, 1924

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 55

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Died in prison

Officer Albert L. Colson 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 NH, 23 of 59 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 39% of this state's fallen. That is 15.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

Exeter Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

NH — Statewide

of 59 officers

39% 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. Albert L. Colson'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 Albert L. Colson 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

Died in prison

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Albert L. Colson is highlighted in Jul.

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. Albert L. Colson 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