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Incident
Corporal Richard Edstrom succumbed to gunshot wounds received over one month earlier in Durango while attempting to apprehend three escaped convicts from New Mexico. During the initial chase the suspect vehicle was stopped and two suspects immediately gave up. The third suspect ran through a cafe onto another street where he was confronted by Corporal Edstrom. During the ensuing gun battle the suspect was shot and killed and Corporal Edstrom was shot two times. He later succumbed to those wounds. Corporal Edstrom had served with the Colorado State Patrol for just eight years.
In Our Keeping
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- 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.
Corporal Edstrom gave the Colorado State Patrol 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Colorado. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Edstrom.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Colorado State Patrol has lost 30 officers; 11 of them killed feloniously.
Richard is one of 236 officers killed feloniously in CO, 65.4% of the 361 remembered there.
Richard is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Richard 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 1959, 1 officer at Colorado State Patrol was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 10 years on record. The heaviest was 2015, with 2.
In 1959, 1 officer in CO was killed feloniously, the 66th heaviest of 113 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 9.
In 1959, 61 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 123rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1959, 62 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 129th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Richard had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 4.4 years.
Richard had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Richard had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Richard had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
October holds 9.1% of these deaths at Colorado State Patrol; January holds the most, 18.2%. Wednesdays: 27.3%.
October holds 11.9% of these deaths in CO, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 17.4%.
October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
October holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 36.7% of all 30 deaths at Colorado State Patrol, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 45.5% 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
Colorado State Patrol has 30 officers remembered here, Richard among them.
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Arnold B. Gulzow
Jun 26, 1941
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Wallace M. McCarty
Jan 24, 1946
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Harold Bechtelheimer
Sep 14, 1949
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Wesley Rosette
Jan 31, 1951
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Floyd E. Gresham
Feb 2, 1956
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Melvin E. Phillips
Feb 2, 1956
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Richard J. Cahalan
Sep 28, 1957
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Richard C. Edstrom
Oct 28, 1959
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Hiram V. Short
Jul 12, 1961
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Albert M. Alcorn
Jan 23, 1966
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Nicholas A. Carhart
Jan 23, 1966
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Gerald R. Williams
Dec 16, 1967
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Larry B. Enloe
Jan 8, 1968
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Thomas Ray Carpenter
Dec 27, 1973
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Richard P. Ross
Jul 10, 1974
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Michael Hardy James
Dec 18, 1975
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Willis Hugh Purdy
Jul 31, 1976
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Frances Irene Galvin
May 25, 1979
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James Kevin Farris
Nov 29, 1980
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Charles Andrew Fry
Sep 26, 1987
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Joseph Ardian Ynostroza
Dec 6, 1989
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Lyle Fredrick Wohlers
Nov 5, 1992
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Jason Lee Manspeaker
Jan 23, 2001
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Zachariah Earl Templeton
Oct 12, 2007
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Molly Tyler White
Nov 23, 2012
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Taylor Joseph Thyfault
May 23, 2015
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Jaimie Lynn Jursevics
Nov 15, 2015
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Cody James Donahue
Nov 25, 2016
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Daniel H. Groves
Mar 13, 2019
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William James Modén
Jun 14, 2019
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 33-W
What is kept
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Others Who Wore This Badge
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