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Incident
Patrolman Les Schellbach was shot and killed after responding to a shooting call. Three armed suspects, two of whom were escapees from the Utah State Prison, had robbed a market and ordered the store owner and a customer into a walk-in refrigerator at the rear of the store. The owner slipped out an auxiliary door and called the police. The suspects then fled the store in a vehicle. An off-duty officer was called and responded to the robbery call in his private vehicle without a police radio. As he responded, he saw the suspect vehicle traveling southbound on Highway 65 from 5th Street. The suspects in the vehicle were wearing masks. He followed the vehicle as it turned westbound on Moore Road, where the suspects spotted him and sped up. The suspects were driving too fast and crashed their car on a sharp turn (just west of what is now Delancy Way). The officer exited his car with his off duty revolver and identified himself as a police officer. He ordered the suspects to surrender, but he was immediately shot in the face, chest, arms, and left side by a shotgun blast during the shootout. The suspects fired multiple rounds at him as he took cover behind his car. Seriously wounded, he ran to a nearby farmhouse to make an emergency phone call to the Lincoln Police Department dispatch. Officer Leslie Schellbach responded to the shooting call on Moore Road. When he arrived at the scene he was fatally shot in the chest with a semi-automatic M-16 rifle, rupturing his aorta. The suspects fled the scene in the other officer's private vehicle. One of the subjects was located in a field armed with three firearms. On December 16th, 1971, law enforcement officers arrested the remaining two suspects at an apartment in Sacramento. The suspects were charged with murder, attempted murder, assault against a police officer, armed robbery, auto theft, and conspiracy. In 1972, two of the suspects were convicted of murder and sentenced to life in state prison. The other suspect committed
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Schellbach served with the Lincoln Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Lincoln community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Schellbach.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Leslie is the only officer of Lincoln Police Department remembered here.
Leslie is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Leslie is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Leslie 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 1971, 22 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1971, 168 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 18th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1971, 181 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Leslie was 31. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35.
Leslie was 31. 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.
Leslie was 31. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
December holds 8.2% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 15.8%.
December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Sundays: 15.2%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 100% of all 1 deaths at Lincoln Police Department. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 100% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 8.6% 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 rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.3% of these deaths.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 63-E
What is kept
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