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

		NE State Patrolman Loyal M. Zink, Cheyenne County Nebraska State Patrolman Loyal M. Zink died as a result of injuries he sustained when his patrol car was involved in a collision with a gravel truck about 10 miles west of Sidney. State Patrolman Zink died at about 6:35 p.m. on Wednesday, June 13, 1945. It is believed that Zink was in pursuit of a speeder moments before the collision. With the emergency red lights and siren activated, Zink was eastbound on Highway #30 when a gravel truck made a left turn in front of him. The driver of the truck was turning into the Sioux Ordinance Depot at the time of the collision. Patrolman Zink was 44 years old and survived by his wife, Wilda, and two sons, Ronald and Lyle.
		Sheriff James M. Nelson, Cheyenne County Sheriff James M. Nelson was shot at about noon on Thursday, February 20, 1930, by a man who had escaped from the State Insane Asylum in Hastings. Sheriff Nelson and Deputy Sheriff Richard Carlson observed the subject about 1 1/2 miles north of Sidney and attempted to make contact. The suspect started shooting as soon as Nelson stepped from the car. He was struck in the head and fell back into the car. Carlson attempted to flee and was shot twice but survived. The crazed man then returned and shot Nelson once again in the car. The suspect was later shot by a posse that had been formed to capture him. Sheriff Nelson died at about 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 22, 1930. He was 54 years old, and was survived by his wife, Gertrude, and six children.
		Fairfield Marshal Arthur A. Athey, Clay County Fairfield Marshal Arthur A. Athey died at about 3:45 a.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 1945, from injuries suffered after being struck by a speeding vehicle. Athey was at the side of the road on foot when he was struck, attempting to wave the speeding vehicle over and, inadvertently, stepping into the vehicle's path. The driver was to leave the next morning for duty in the armed forces and had been out with friends for his last night at home. A coroner's jury absolved the driver of any criminal charges and he was allowed to leave for military duty the following day. Marshal Athey was 66 years old and single. He had been the Marshal of Fairfield for five years.
		Sheriff Charles O. Sanderson, Clay County Sheriff Charles O. Sanderson was shot and killed at about 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 16, 1914, about 4 miles north of Harvard. Sheriff Sanderson was investigating the murder of a local businessman and was informed that a suspicious stranger was walking north of Harvard. Sheriff Sanderson, accompanied by D. T. Phillips, located the suspect walking alongside the road. Sanderson called for the man to stop and, when the order was ignored, the Sheriff fired warning shots. The suspect turned and fired, striking Sheriff Sanderson with his first shot. The suspect fled and later committed suicide when cornered by a posse. Sheriff Sanderson was 36 years old and survived by his wife, Katherine, and two children.
		Sheriff George H. Little, Colfax County Sheriff George H. Little died at about 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 19, 1937, from injuries suffered in a one-car crash north of Norfolk. Sheriff Little was taking Sheriff Ed Schwartz back to Pierce where Little was to testify in a civil case. Shortly after midnight on May 19th, Sheriff Little failed to negotiate a curve about five miles north of Norfolk and slammed his car into an embankment. Little suffered head and chest injuries and passed away that evening. Sheriff Little was 43 years old and survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and six children..
		Sheriff John S. Degman, Colfax County Sheriff John S. Degman died on Tuesday, January 12, 1886, at about 9:15 a.m. after being beaten with a piece of firewood by a prisoner in the jail. Degman had gone into the cell at about 8:00 a.m. to attend to the prisoner and was attacked. The prisoner escaped briefly but was captured by the former Sheriff. Later that night, a group of men came to the jail, took the killer outside to a tree and hung him. Sheriff Degman had been sworn in on January 2, 1886. He was 35 years old and single.
		Deputy Sheriff Michael T. McManigal, Dakota County Deputy Sheriff Michael T. McManigal died from injuries suffered in a collision at about 2:15 p.m. on Friday, May 7, 1982. Deputy McManigal was responding to a report of an explosion when he collided with a state patrol trooper responding to the same report. The collision occurred at the junction of U.S. #20 and West 29th Street. The other trooper was not seriously injured. Deputy McManigal was 35 years old and survived by his wife, Pamela, and three children.
		Homer Marchal Leo Wilke, Dakota County Homer Marshal Leo Wilke died from injuries he received at about 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 4, 1940. Heavy flooding in the area had reached a local bar in Homer and while Marshal Wilke was trying to rescue people from inside, an explosion occurred. Wilke suffered a fatal head injury in the explosion. Marshal Wilke was 34 years old and survived by his wife, Margarette.
		Chief of Police Charles W. Eschenbrenner, Dawes County Crawford Chief of Police Charles W. Eschenbrenner died as a result of a heart attack following a call and arrest of a barricaded man with hostages. Chief Eschenbrenner died at about 2:35 p.m. on Monday, August 22, 1955, shortly after the suspect surrendered. Chief Eschenbrenner had attempted to negotiate the subject into surrendering. When this failed he called for tear gas. When the canisters of tear gas arrived, he decided to throw them through a basement window. While doing this, the suspect fired a shot at the lawman. Eschenbrenner was not wounded but suffered a heart attack following the attempt on his life. Chief Eschenbrenner was 62 years old and survived by his wife, Bertha, and two children.
		Crawford Marshal Arthur A. Moss, Dawes County Crawford Marshal Arthur A. Moss died from a gunshot wound received at about 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 13, 1906. Marshal Moss was attempting to disperse a group of soldiers who were drinking beer and began to create a disturbance. When Moss stepped into the area one of the soldiers drew his revolver and shot him. He died a short time later. The soldier fled but was later captured. He was found guilty and spent seven years in the state penitentiary for manslaughter. Marshal Moss was 31 years old and single.