The faces and names you will see and read about are those of law enforcement officers who have died in Nebraska. Each was a member of a family. of a community, and dedicated his life to protecting the citezens of Nebraska. We honor them.

Adams-Cherry | Cheyenne-Dawes | Dawson-Dodge | Douglas | Frontier-Hitchcock | Holt-Keith | Lancaster | Lincoln-Loup | Madison-Platte | Polk-Sheridan | Thayer-York

		Officer Joel R. Conklin, Adams County Hastings Officer Joel R. Conklin was shot and killed at about 10:05 p.m. on Saturday, October 9, 1993, while responding to a report of a disturbance at a residence. Officer Conklin died after being shot by a 35 year-old male subject at the scene of the call. The suspect escaped but later committed suicide when confronted by law enforcement officers searching for him. Officer Conklin was 37 years of age and is survived by his wife, Debra, and daughter, Tracy.   Officer Joel Conklin Memorial Site: Maintained by daughter Tracy http://www.tracysdesign.com/memorial/
		Officer Clarence J. Balcom, Adams County Hastings Officer Clarence J. Balcom died from a gunshot wound at about 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 7, 1888. A 15-year-old male shot Officer Balcom at about 2:15 a.m. on Sunday, August 5, 1888, near the Burlington yard. He had been alerted to watch for the youth who was suspected of a jewelry theft. Officer Balcom was 39 years of age at the time of his death and was survived by his wife, Mariam.
		Sheriff Lawrence I. Smoyer, Boone County Sheriff Lawrence I. Smoyer was shot with a fellow lawman on Thursday, June 17, 1937, about 6 miles north of Akron, NE, west of Albion. Sheriff Smoyer had received a report of suspicious subjects apparently hiding out in the area and asked Constable William Wathen to accompany him in checking out the report. In doing so, the Sheriff was struck with a bullet and died instantly. Two suspects were identified in the case, but never arrested or charged. The case remains unsolved. Smoyer was 41 years old and survived by his wife, Lillian, and six children.
		Constable William Wathen, Boone County Constable William Wathen was shot in the same incident that took the life of Sheriff Lawrence Smoyer (shown above). On June 17, 1937, the two lawmen responded to a report about 6 miles north of Akron, NE, regarding some suspicious subjects that were said to be hiding in the area. When they arrived to investigate, Constable Wathen, who had been asked by Sheriff Smoyer to accompany him, was wounded and remained in critical condition for nearly four months until his death on Sunday, October 3, 1937, at about 1:50 a.m. While two subjects were identified in the case, they were never arrested or charged, and the case remains unsolved.
		Spencer Chief Samuel S. Stringfellow, Boyd County Spencer Police Chief Samuel S. Stringfellow died at about 11 p.m. on Saturday, October 16, 1971, from injuries sustained when a car struck him 1 mile west of Spencer on Highway #12. Chief Stringfellow was investigating a report of a stalled semi-tractor on the highway and had asked the driver to accompany him back to his patrol car. As they walked along the highway, the pair were struck by a passing 16 year-old driver. Chief Stringfellow was 51 years old and survived by his wife, Irene, and two daughters.
		Deputy Sheriff Floyd E. Kindler, Butler County Deputy Sheriff Floyd E. Kindler died at about 11:55 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, 1963, from a heart attack following an intense struggle with a subject he was attempting to arrest. Deputy Kindler had been called to Bellwood, Nebraska, by the town Marshal following a disturbance there. Kindler confronted several subjects at a saloon in Bellwood and asked them to accompany him outside. After exiting the bar, he was assaulted by one of the men. Deputy Kindler arrested one of the subjects and transported him to jail in David City. After securing his prisoner, Kindler collapsed in the jail. He was taken to the hospital but never regained consciousness. Deputy Kindler was 42 years old and was survived by his wife, Frieda.
		NE State Trooper Raymond M. Koerber, Cass County Nebraska State Trooper Raymond M. Koerber died from injuries sustained in a car crash at about 5:30 p.m. on Monday, September 18, 1961. Trooper Koerber was in pursuit of a speeding vehicle on Highway #75 on the west edge of Plattsmouth when another vehicle began backing out in front of his car. Koerber struck the backing vehicle and slammed into an oncoming truck. Trooper Koerber was 35 years old and was survived by his wife, Josephine, and five children.
		Marshal Charles A. Ralston, Cass County Weeping Water Marshal Charles A. Ralston died from a gunshot wound at about 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 1, 1908. Marshal Ralston had been watching several subjects who were believed to be jewelry thieves and who had checked into the local hotel. After following them into the railroad yard it is believed that Ralston was shot by one of the men after being discovered. Marshal Ralston was 49 years old and survived by his wife, Nettie, and six children.
		Deputy Sheriff John W. Phillips, Cedar County Deputy Sheriff John W. Phillips died from a gunshot wound that he received on Friday, October 24, 1884, near West Bow, Nebraska. Deputy Phillips was trailing a suspect wanted in connection with setting fire to hay stacks. Deputy Phillips and a posse located the suspect in a home, and he agreed to surrender, but only to Deputy Phillips. When Phillips entered the house the suspect fired three shots. Two of them missed Phillips. However, the third fatally struck him in the lower part of his body. The suspect was later captured and taken to St. Helena. He was lynched nearby on Saturday, October 25, 1884. Deputy Phillips was 57 years old and survived by his wife.
		NE State Patrolman Marvin L. Hansen, Cherry County Nebraska State Patrolman Marvin L. Hansen died from a gunshot wound at about 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 8, 1954, near Valentine, Nebraska. Hansen and Cherry County Sheriff Bill Freeman had staked out a nearby road, having received a tip that it would be used by two suspects Ñ the Grandsinger brothers Ñ while transporting a stolen vehicle into the sand hills with the intention of stripping it for parts. The two lawmen stopped the suspects as they drove by, arresting Leon Grandsinger while brother Llyod fled from the scene. Hansen gave chase and was shot in the lower abdomen about 200 feet west of the road. He died a short time later. While Leon Grandsinger plead guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years in the State Penitentiary, brother Lloyd appealed his conviction and electric chair sentence, received a new trial, and was acquitted and freed after a second trial. Hansen was 28 years old and was survived by his wife, Lorraine.