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Incident
Patrolman Melvin Phillips and Patrolman Floyd Gresham were killed when their cruiser was struck by a tractor-trailer while they conducted a traffic stop. They had stopped another tractor-trailer on Route 40 (modern day U.S. Highway 287) and were issuing a citation when the other semi rear-ended their cruiser, crushing it between the two trucks, and pushing both vehicles more than 65 feet. Patrolman Phillips had been employed with the Colorado State Patrol for two 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.
Patrolman Phillips gave the Colorado State Patrol 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Colorado. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Phillips.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Colorado State Patrol has lost 30 officers; 19 of them lost to accidents.
Melvin is one of 101 officers lost to accidents in CO, 28% of the 361 remembered there.
Melvin is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Melvin is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1956, 2 officers at Colorado State Patrol were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1956, 2 officers in CO were lost to accidents, the 9th heaviest of 66 years on record. The heaviest was 1934, with 4.
In 1956, 60 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 73rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1956, 74 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 68th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Melvin was 27. Of the 13 lost to accidents at Colorado State Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 27 and 37; the middle age was 30. Melvin had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 7.5 years.
Melvin was 27. Of the 79 lost to accidents in CO whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 37. Melvin had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Melvin was 27. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Melvin had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Melvin was 27. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Melvin had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
February holds 10.5% of these deaths at Colorado State Patrol; January holds the most, 21.1%. Thursdays: 15.8%.
February holds 6.9% of these deaths in CO; July holds the most, 11.9%. Thursdays: 18.8%.
February holds 7.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Thursdays: 14%.
February holds 7.2% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 63.3% of all 30 deaths at Colorado State Patrol, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 28% of all 361 deaths in CO, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Colorado State Patrol has 30 officers remembered here, Melvin 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 45-W
What is kept
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Others Who Wore This Badge
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