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Incident
Chief of Police Lawrence Bass and Undersheriff William Stretcher, of the Boulder County Sheriff's Office, 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. Chief Bass was the first Boulder police chief and was the department's first officer to be killed in the line of duty. He had served with the Boulder Police Department for 21 years.
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
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21 years. You could have gone home.
Chief of Police Bass gave the Boulder Police Department 21 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Boulder community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Bass.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Boulder Police Department has lost 7 officers; 2 of them lost to accidents.
Lawrence is one of 101 officers lost to accidents in CO, 28% of the 361 remembered there.
Lawrence is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Lawrence 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.
Who
Lawrence was 49. Of the 79 lost to accidents in CO whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 37. Lawrence had served 21 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Lawrence was 49. 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. Lawrence had served 21 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Lawrence was 49. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Lawrence had served 21 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 8.9% of these deaths in CO; July holds the most, 11.9%. Thursdays: 18.8%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Thursdays: 14%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 28.6% of all 7 deaths at Boulder Police Department, the 2nd 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 Police Department has 7 officers remembered here, Lawrence among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 41-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Boulder Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
