Prev
Incident
Trooper Lyle Wohlers was shot during a traffic stop of two juveniles on I-70 near Georgetown. During the stop he requested backup but was shot by one of the suspects before backup arrived. The two suspects were apprehended and tried as adults. The shooter was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole and the accomplice was sentenced to 32 years but was released after serving 11 years. As shooter was a juvenile at the time, he was resentenced following the Supreme Court's ruling on juvenile offenders in 2012. The suspect was resentenced to 46 years and his release date is scheduled for 2037. Trooper Wohlers had served with the Colorado State Patrol for 26 years. He is survived by his wife and son. His son became the Chief of Police in Idaho Springs, Colorado.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtqevk1ndp3pr0h0xb0q1- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Lyle. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
26 years. You could have gone home.
Trooper Wohlers gave the Colorado State Patrol 26 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the people of Colorado. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Wohlers.
— 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.
Lyle is one of 236 officers killed feloniously in CO, 65.4% of the 361 remembered there.
Lyle is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Lyle 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 1992, 1 officer at Colorado State Patrol was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 10 years on record. The heaviest was 2015, with 2.
In 1992, 2 officers in CO were killed feloniously, the 33rd heaviest of 113 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 9.
In 1992, 93 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 59th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1992, 97 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 66th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Lyle was 51. Of the 9 killed feloniously at Colorado State Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 40; the middle age was 33. Lyle had served 26 years; the middle length of service was 4.4 years.
Lyle was 51. Of the 184 killed feloniously in CO whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 47; the middle age was 39. Lyle had served 26 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Lyle was 51. 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. Lyle had served 26 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Lyle was 51. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Lyle had served 26 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
November holds 18.2% of these deaths at Colorado State Patrol; January holds the most, 18.2%. Thursdays: 36.4%.
November holds 10.2% of these deaths in CO; October holds the most, 11.9%. Thursdays: 15.7%.
November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
November holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
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, Lyle among them.
-
Arnold B. Gulzow
Jun 26, 1941
-
Wallace M. McCarty
Jan 24, 1946
-
Harold Bechtelheimer
Sep 14, 1949
-
Wesley Rosette
Jan 31, 1951
-
Floyd E. Gresham
Feb 2, 1956
-
Melvin E. Phillips
Feb 2, 1956
-
Richard J. Cahalan
Sep 28, 1957
-
Richard C. Edstrom
Oct 28, 1959
-
Hiram V. Short
Jul 12, 1961
-
Albert M. Alcorn
Jan 23, 1966
-
Nicholas A. Carhart
Jan 23, 1966
-
Gerald R. Williams
Dec 16, 1967
-
Larry B. Enloe
Jan 8, 1968
-
Thomas Ray Carpenter
Dec 27, 1973
-
Richard P. Ross
Jul 10, 1974
-
Michael Hardy James
Dec 18, 1975
-
Willis Hugh Purdy
Jul 31, 1976
-
Frances Irene Galvin
May 25, 1979
-
James Kevin Farris
Nov 29, 1980
-
Charles Andrew Fry
Sep 26, 1987
-
Joseph Ardian Ynostroza
Dec 6, 1989
-
Lyle Fredrick Wohlers
Nov 5, 1992
-
Jason Lee Manspeaker
Jan 23, 2001
-
Zachariah Earl Templeton
Oct 12, 2007
-
Molly Tyler White
Nov 23, 2012
-
Taylor Joseph Thyfault
May 23, 2015
-
Jaimie Lynn Jursevics
Nov 15, 2015
-
Cody James Donahue
Nov 25, 2016
-
Daniel H. Groves
Mar 13, 2019
-
William James Modén
Jun 14, 2019
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 40-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
29 officers from Colorado State Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
