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Incident
Undersheriff William Stretcher and Chief of Police Lawrence Bass, of the Boulder Police Department, were killed in an automobile crash while responding to a fire. The Buick they were driving was only two days old and was the department's first police car. As they entered the intersection of 19th and Pearl Streets they collided with the city's first fire truck. Chief Bass and a civilian occupant of the police car were killed in the crash. Undersheriff Stretcher, also an occupant of the vehicle, succumbed to his injuries four days later.
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Undersheriff Stretcher served with the Boulder County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Boulder community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Undersheriff Stretcher.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Boulder County Sheriff's Office has lost 2 officers; 1 of them lost to accidents.
William is one of 101 officers lost to accidents in CO, 28% of the 361 remembered there.
William is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
William 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 1920, 3 officers in CO were lost to accidents, the 5th heaviest of 66 years on record. The heaviest was 1934, with 4.
In 1920, 48 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 99th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1920, 66 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 81st heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
When
March holds 8.9% of these deaths in CO; July holds the most, 11.9%. Mondays: 16.8%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 50% of all 2 deaths at Boulder County Sheriff's Office, 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
Boulder County Sheriff's Office has 2 officers remembered here, William among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 46-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Boulder County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
