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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- 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
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Colorado State Patrol has lost 30 officers; 11 of them killed feloniously.
Harold is one of 236 officers killed feloniously in CO, 65.4% of the 361 remembered there.
Harold is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Harold is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1949, 1 officer at Colorado State Patrol was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 10 years on record. The heaviest was 2015, with 2.
In 1949, 2 officers in CO were killed feloniously, the 33rd heaviest of 113 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 9.
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.
In 1949, 65 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 122nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Harold was 40. Of the 9 killed feloniously at Colorado State Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 40; the middle age was 33. Harold had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 4.4 years.
Harold was 40. Of the 184 killed feloniously in CO whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 47; the middle age was 39. Harold had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
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.
Harold was 40. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Harold had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
September holds 18.2% of these deaths at Colorado State Patrol; January holds the most, 18.2%. Wednesdays: 27.3%.
September holds 9.3% of these deaths in CO; October holds the most, 11.9%. Wednesdays: 17.4%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
September holds 8.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
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 51.7% of all 34,117 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, Harold among them.
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Arnold B. Gulzow
Jun 26, 1941
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Wallace M. McCarty
Jan 24, 1946
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Harold Bechtelheimer
Sep 14, 1949
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Wesley Rosette
Jan 31, 1951
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Floyd E. Gresham
Feb 2, 1956
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Melvin E. Phillips
Feb 2, 1956
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Richard J. Cahalan
Sep 28, 1957
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Richard C. Edstrom
Oct 28, 1959
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Hiram V. Short
Jul 12, 1961
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Albert M. Alcorn
Jan 23, 1966
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Nicholas A. Carhart
Jan 23, 1966
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Gerald R. Williams
Dec 16, 1967
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Larry B. Enloe
Jan 8, 1968
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Thomas Ray Carpenter
Dec 27, 1973
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Richard P. Ross
Jul 10, 1974
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Michael Hardy James
Dec 18, 1975
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Willis Hugh Purdy
Jul 31, 1976
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Frances Irene Galvin
May 25, 1979
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James Kevin Farris
Nov 29, 1980
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Charles Andrew Fry
Sep 26, 1987
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Joseph Ardian Ynostroza
Dec 6, 1989
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Lyle Fredrick Wohlers
Nov 5, 1992
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Jason Lee Manspeaker
Jan 23, 2001
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Zachariah Earl Templeton
Oct 12, 2007
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Molly Tyler White
Nov 23, 2012
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Taylor Joseph Thyfault
May 23, 2015
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Jaimie Lynn Jursevics
Nov 15, 2015
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Cody James Donahue
Nov 25, 2016
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Daniel H. Groves
Mar 13, 2019
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William James Modén
Jun 14, 2019
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 29-W
What is kept
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