Incident
Detective Donald DeBruno was shot and killed while he and his partner attempted to serve warrants on a man wanted for six thefts in Kentucky and the murder of a man in Toronto, Canada. Detective DeBruno and his partner located the man at the Denver Bus Station, which was located at 1055 19th Street. When they approached the man, a gunfight ensued. Detective DeBruno was shot in the chest, his partner was wounded, and the suspect was critically wounded. The suspect, 29, shot four times and paralyzed from the waist down, was sentenced to life in prison. He was eligible for parole in 2006 but was denied. He had another hearing in December 2007. Detective DeBruno had served with the Denver Police Department for six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective DeBruno gave the Denver Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Denver community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective DeBruno.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Denver Police Department has lost 74 officers; 55 of them killed feloniously.
Donald is one of 236 officers killed feloniously in CO, 65.4% of the 361 remembered there.
Donald is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Donald is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1975, 2 officers at Denver Police Department were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 46 years on record. The heaviest was 1997, with 3.
In 1975, 5 officers in CO were killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 113 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 9.
In 1975, 163 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 21st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1975, 181 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Donald was 30. Of the 38 killed feloniously at Denver Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 45.8; the middle age was 39. Donald had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Donald was 30. Of the 184 killed feloniously in CO whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 47; the middle age was 39. Donald had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Donald was 30. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Donald had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Donald was 30. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Donald had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 7.3% of these deaths at Denver Police Department; March holds the most, 16.4%. Wednesdays: 18.2%.
December holds 8.9% of these deaths in CO; October holds the most, 11.9%. Wednesdays: 17.4%.
December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 74.3% of all 74 deaths at Denver Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 32.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 65.4% of all 361 deaths in CO, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 27.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Denver Police Department has 74 officers remembered here, Donald among them.
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James C. Richey Feb 4, 1862
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John C. Phillips
Jul 16, 1889
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Charles F. Wanless
Sep 18, 1890
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Charles A. Hawley
Jan 16, 1891
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Gustave Gisin
Jan 24, 1893
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Alpheus J. Moore
Mar 20, 1895
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Wendell P. Smith Feb 6, 1896
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William E. Griffiths
Aug 13, 1899
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Thomas C. Clifford
Aug 13, 1899
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Stuart K. Harvey
Nov 6, 1900
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Frank Dulin
Mar 14, 1905
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William Bohanna
Mar 15, 1905
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John Spellman
Jun 18, 1906
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William H. Beck
May 2, 1908
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William P. Stephens
Aug 25, 1908
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Samuel Charles Carpenter
Jan 17, 1910
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William McPherson
Mar 12, 1912
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William H. Cabler Apr 22, 1916
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Luther McMahill
Sep 14, 1918
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Frank Sam Potestio
Nov 22, 1918
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Peter A. Walsh
Nov 23, 1918
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Emerson L. McKinnon
May 20, 1919
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George C. Klein
Aug 29, 1919
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James E. Boggio
Jan 8, 1920
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Roy O. Downing Dec 1, 1920
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William O. Steam Feb 18, 1921
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Clarence E. Zietz
Apr 2, 1921
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Forrest Ross
Apr 4, 1921
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Arthur J. Pinkerton
May 30, 1921
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Richie Rose
Oct 31, 1922
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James Shannon
Apr 4, 1925
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Elmer I. Rich
Mar 23, 1927
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Harry R. Ohle
Nov 22, 1928
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Thomas J. Durkin
Jan 17, 1929
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Clarence W. Alston
Mar 24, 1929
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William C. Keating
Aug 31, 1931
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John F. Dea
Feb 11, 1933
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George P. Schneider
Feb 11, 1933
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Thomas J. O'Connor
Mar 5, 1934
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John J. O'Donnell
Mar 22, 1934
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Clarence E. Fraker
Mar 23, 1934
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Alson E. McCasland
May 28, 1935
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Robert M. Campbell
Feb 11, 1936
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Pasquale C. Marinaro
Apr 17, 1936
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Forrest E. Sawyer
Mar 8, 1937
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Jacob Benner
Feb 14, 1938
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Fred Renovato
Oct 13, 1938
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Earl F. Burns
Feb 16, 1939
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Virgil M. Hall
Jul 5, 1945
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William Allen Claassen
Feb 11, 1953
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Donald L. Seick
Jan 12, 1958
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Edward H. Smerdel
Jul 16, 1961
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Darrell J. Suer
Mar 11, 1962
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Carl B. Knobbe
Sep 12, 1962
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Paul Lewis Major
Jan 20, 1965
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Paul D. Wilson
Sep 14, 1968
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William J. Wirtz
Feb 10, 1971
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Merle E. Nading
Oct 3, 1971
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William E. Smith
Jan 23, 1975
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Donald Lee DeBruno
Dec 10, 1975
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Kathleen Garcia
Mar 28, 1981
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Patrick Joseph Pollock
Dec 12, 1986
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James Edward Wier
Jun 3, 1987
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Robert William Wallis
Feb 9, 1988
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Shawn James Leinen
Feb 25, 1995
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Ronald Leon DeHerrera
Apr 1, 1997
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Bruce Leonard VanderJagt
Nov 12, 1997
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Michael E. Dowd
Dec 6, 1997
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Dennis Michael Licata
Sep 6, 2000
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Donald Ray Young
May 8, 2005
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David Roberts
May 27, 2011
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Celena Charise Hollis
Jun 24, 2012
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Robert Eugene Sandoval
Oct 29, 2020
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Dale Coski
Sep 26, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 39-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
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