Harold Bechtelheimer
Agency patch
Patrolman

Harold Bechtelheimer

Colorado State Patrol — Lakewood, CO
Felonious
End of Watch September 14, 1949
Age 40
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Harold Bechtelheimer was shot and killed after stopping a vehicle for speeding on Highway 85-87 north of Colorado Springs. Unbeknownst to Patrolman Bechtelheimer, the two occupants had stolen the vehicle earlier in the evening and had robbed a nearby liquor store. Before Patrolman Bechtelheimer caught up to them the men had stopped due to a mechanical problem with the vehicle. One of the suspects was looking underneath the front of the vehicle when Patrolman Bechtelheimer approached and was not observed by Patrolman Bechtelheimer. As he spoke with the driver the second man snuck around the vehicle and stuck a pistol in Patrolman Bechtelheimer's back. Patrolman Bechtelheimer spun around and struck the man with his flashlight before being shot in the chest. Both men, ages 16 and 21, were later apprehended and sentenced to life. On January 24th, 1955, the 16-year-old received another life sentence when he was convicted of stabbing to death a fellow inmate. He was still in prison in 1983. On March 6, 1968, the other man's sentence was commuted to 30 years making him eligible for parole in February 1969. Patrolman Bechtelheimer had served with the Colorado State Patrol for just over four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Patrolman Bechtelheimer gave the Colorado State Patrol 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Colorado. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Bechtelheimer.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Highway Patrol
Location Lakewood, CO
Platform Identity chp.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 14, 1949
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 40
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Harold is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1949, 65 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 113th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Harold was 40. 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. Harold had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

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.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Colorado State Patrol has 30 officers remembered here, Harold among them.

VI

Where

Patrolman Harold Bechtelheimer

Colorado State Patrol · End of Watch September 14, 1949

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 29-W

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