Nathan Norman Bear
Incident
Captain Bear was accidentally shot and killed by another officer while investigating a kidnapping. The other officer mistook Captain Bear for a suspect in North Dakota. Captain Bear had served with the agency for 9 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five 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.
Captain Bear gave the United States Department of the Interior 9 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Bear.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services has lost 52 officers; 7 of them lost to accidents.
Nathan is one of 453 officers lost to accidents in DC, 31.9% of the 1,419 remembered there.
Nathan is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Nathan is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1960, 1 officer at United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1960, 8 officers in DC were lost to accidents, the 7th heaviest of 125 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 14.
In 1960, 73 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 38th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1960, 89 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 39th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Nathan was 31. Of the 7 lost to accidents at United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services whose age is recorded, half were between 31.5 and 33.5; the middle age was 32. Nathan had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 9.5 years.
Nathan was 31. Of the 425 lost to accidents in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Nathan had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Nathan was 31. 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. Nathan had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Nathan was 31. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Nathan had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 14.3% of these deaths at United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services; September holds the most, 28.6%. Thursdays: 28.6%.
July holds 10.6% of these deaths in DC, more than any other month. Thursdays: 16.6%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Thursdays: 14%.
July holds 8.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 13.5% of all 52 deaths at United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 31.9% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, 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 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services has 52 officers remembered here, Nathan among them.
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Chin Chi Kee Jan 10, 1852
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Andrew J. Bolon
Sep 25, 1855
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Benjamin Franklin Jones Sep 20, 1876
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Culpepper Cobert Dec 7, 1878
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John Green Dec 25, 1878
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John R. Boston Jul 20, 1881
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Joe Barnett Jul 30, 1882
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Sam Scott Jul 30, 1882
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Leander Brown Aug 7, 1882
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Henry McGill Nov 3, 1883
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Frank West
Dec 17, 1886
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Jack Candy
Jan 28, 1888
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Medley Hair Jan 28, 1888
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Paul Akicitah Dec 15, 1890
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John Armstrong Dec 15, 1890
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David Hawkman Dec 15, 1890
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James Little Eagle Dec 15, 1890
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Charles Shavehead Dec 16, 1890
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Henry Bullhead
Dec 19, 1890
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Armstead Homer May 16, 1891
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Sequoyah Houston
Jun 17, 1894
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Isaac Walkingstick
Jul 29, 1894
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Robert Marshal Sep 10, 1894
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John Red Horse Nov 16, 1894
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James T. Musgrove Jun 3, 1895
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Joe Big Knife Oct 22, 1895
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Charles Proctor Aug 10, 1896
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Jefferson Davis Surratt
Dec 5, 1900
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Cub Burney Jul 17, 1901
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Dick Bullard Jan 4, 1902
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W. M. Russell Dec 24, 1904
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Ben C. Collins
Aug 1, 1906
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Frank Horn Cloud
Mar 10, 1910
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Robert Leo Bowman
Sep 19, 1912
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William Miller May 4, 1919
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Henry Oats
Feb 6, 1925
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Aaron Harrison Scott Jun 22, 1925
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Oscar E. Olson Oct 26, 1930
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Nathan Norman Bear Jul 14, 1960
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George Comes At Night Apr 15, 1962
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Alan L. St. Clair Oct 3, 1965
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Adolph Frederick Bush
Feb 19, 1967
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Phillip Nick Lopez Apr 1, 1975
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Milburn Williamson
Dec 28, 1976
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Leroy Andrew Pine, Jr. Jul 23, 1988
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Dean Martin James
Sep 17, 1988
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Terry Spotted Wolf, Sr. Sep 20, 1988
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Kevin Tilman Lewis
Feb 4, 1993
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Michael Grant Miller
Aug 28, 1995
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Jack Lee Spencer, Sr.
Sep 5, 1998
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Creighton Travis Spencer
Mar 25, 2001
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Joshua Yazzie
Jun 7, 2010
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 32-E
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51 officers from United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.








