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.

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		Officer Eric L. Ottis, Douglas County Bennington Reserve Officer Eric L. Ottis was killed on February 10, 2002, near the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center outside of Grant Island. Ottis' vehicle was struck by another vehicle as he was leaving the training center. A contributing factor to the accident was a missing stop sign, knocked down the previous day, that had not yet been replaced.
		Officer Charles N. Overman, Gage County Wymore Officer Charles N. Overman was shot at about 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 30, 1948, in front of the Wymore City Jail. Overman had arrested a suspected drunk driver and transported him to the jail just before the shooting. As Overman pulled up in front of the jail, the suspect suddenly pulled out a .32 caliber revolver and shot the officer. The suspect first tried to flee but then stopped and shot himself in the head. Officer Overman died from his wounds at about 7:00 p.m. that night. He was 58 years old and survived by his wife, Ann, and two children.
		Constable James P. Paxton, Greeley County Greeley County Constable James P. Paxton died on Friday, April 10, 1891, near Pinnacle Springs, Arkansas, while attempting to arrest a former Nebraska man on a warrant. Greeley County authorities had received information that a a 39-year-old man wanted in connection with selling mortgaged property was in hiding in Arkansas. With a governor's warrent in hand, Paxton traveled to Arkansas, was told of the suspect's hideout in the woods, and led a group of Arkansas deputies to arrest him. As Paxton waited for the deputies to get into position, the suspect suddenly emerged from his cabin, shotgun in hand, apparently planning to do some hunting. As the man walked down the laneway, unknowingly approaching the hidden lawman, Paxton stepped out from his position and commanded the man to surrender. He responded by slowly lowering the shotgun's barrel to his side, but quickly raised it again and fired as Paxton began to approach. The charge struck Paxton in the face, killing him instantly. The suspect was later shot by Arkansas deputies and jailed. Constable Paxton was 41 years old and survived by his wife and four children.
		Officer Albert W. Peterson, Scotts Bluff County Scottsbluff Officer Albert W. Peterson was shot at about 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25, 1923, in Mitchell, Nebraska. Officer Peterson and Scotts Bluff County Deputy Sheriff Carlson went to Mitchell to look for a man named Frank Randall who was wanted in connection with a bootlegging operation. Arriving at a residence, the officers heard someone leaving through the back door. They observed a subject standing near a garage and called out to him. The man responded by firing two shots at the lawmen, the first striking Peterson in the stomach. The second shot passed through both of Carlson's forearms, crippling him. Peterson was taken into the house and a doctor was summoned. He died at about 10:20 p.m. Officer Peterson was 43 years old and survived by his wife, Bina.
		Special Duty Patrolman Otto P. Peterson, Douglas County Omaha Special Duty Patrolman Otto P. Peterson was shot at about 10:30 p.m. on Monday, July 17, 1933, while contacting two suspicious men near 31st and Poppleton Avenue. Peterson was shot once in the chest and once in the head. He died at about 1:05 a.m. on Tuesday, July 18, 1933. The assailants were later identified as Cecil Thornbrugh and Hank Thornbrugh. Cecil was later captured in another state after a shootout with authorities. Hank was killed in a another shootout. Patrolman Peterson was 46 years old and widowed. He was survived by his two 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.
		Sergeant Ron Phillips, Polk County Sergeant Ron Phillips, a Polk County Deputy Sheriff, died on Monday, January 26, 2004, from a heart attack suffered after attempting to dig out his patrol car during a snow storm. Having made his "on duty" call, Sergeant Phillips became stuck in the snow and attempted to free the vehicle himself. He eventually called a tow truck, whose driver discovered Phillips slumped over in the front seat. Emergency personnel were immediately dispatched, however he was later pronounced dead at Annie Jeffrey Memorial County Health Center in Osceola. Sergeant Phillips was 56 years old and is survived by his wife, Jennifer and his two sons, Shannon and Matthew.
		Sergeant Jason "Tye" Pratt, Douglas County Omaha Police Sergeant Jason "Tye" Pratt died on September 19, 2003, after being shot on September 11, 2003. He was shot in the head after a suspect ran from a traffic stop. Sgt. Pratt's partner returned fire, killing the suspect. Sergeant Pratt, at age 30, he was a seven-year veteran of the Omaha Police Department. Pratt left behind a wife, Stacy, and two daughters. He was promoted to Sergeant during his time in the hospital prior to his death.
		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.
		Chief of Police Asa L. Ransom, Kearney County Minden Chief of Police Asa L. Ransom was shot and killed during the early morning hours on Sunday, October 19, 1924. The shooting occurred about 5 1Ú2 miles northeast of Minden on the D-L-D Highway. Chief Ransom was searching for escapees from the Minden jail that had burglarized businesses in the town the previous night. Ransom and a special deputy set up a roadblock north of town and stopped a suspicious vehicle. As Chief Ransom approached and began talking to the occupants, shots rang out. Ransom fell, mortally wounded, and died a few minutes later. The two men escaped but were identified later and captured. Chief Ransom was 44 years old and survived by his wife, Laura, and three sons.
		Officer James H. Ray, Scotts Bluff County Gering Officer James H. Ray died from injuries he received in a crash involving his patrol car and a water truck on Friday, August 7, 1959. Officer Ray was assisting the driver of the water truck in locating the road to Melbeta, Nebraska. Ray was in front of the truck and signaled a turn into the Circle S Motel when the driver misunderstood the signal and began passing the patrol car. As Ray turned left the truck struck his car and both vehicles went into the ditch. Officer Ray was trapped in the vehicle and died from his injuries. He was 62 years old and survived by his wife, Alma, and daughter.
		Officer John Red Horse, Sheridan County Department of the Interior and Pine Ridge Tribal Officer John Red Horse was killed on Thursday, November 15, 1894, in Rushville, Nebraska, while attempting to intervene in a disturbance between two men. Officer Red Horse had gone into one of the lodges at the camping ground when he heard the disturbance. He found two men fighting and stepped between them. One of the men suddenly picked up a piece of wood and struck Red Horse. He fell to the ground and the man dropped the piece of wood. The other man then picked it back up and beat Red Horse to death. Both men were later captured and tried for the murder of Officer Red Horse.
		Police Officer James M. Richardson II, York County York Police Officer James M. Richardson II was shot and killed at about 10:35 p.m. on Friday, April 22, 1977, while responding to a disturbance call at 1520 Blackburn Ave. When Richardson arrived, he stepped out to assess the situation. He was shot near his parked patrol car and staggered about 25 feet before falling on the lawn of the Arbor Drive Baptist Church. A 17 year-old suspect was apprehended about an hour later near the York Middle School. Officer Richardson was 24 years old and single at the time of his death.
		Detective Thomas Ring, Douglas County Omaha Detective Thomas Ring was killed about noon on Wednesday, February 10, 1915. Ring had been asked by Union Pacific Special Officer Cashman to assist with arresting two men wanted in connection with robbing boxcars of merchandise. Ring met with Cashman and Special Officer Phillips of Burlington Northern and went to a rooming house located at 401 North 15th Street, where the two men were to have been. Upon arriving, the officers went upstairs and announced themselves. A warning came for the officers to stay away from the door. As Ring stood on a washstand and looked through a transom in an attempt to see what the suspects were doing, he was shot once with a .44 caliber revolver and died instantly. Two suspects fled but one was captured a short distance away. The other suspect committed suicide to avoid capture. Detective Ring was 54 years old and survived by his wife and three children.
		Patrolman George E. Rodgers, Lincoln County North Platte Patrolman George E. Rodgers died at about 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 15, 1920, after being shot an hour earlier at Nick Chiro's Pool Hall on East Front Street. Rodgers and Chief Sheldon Mecomber caught two men gambling and were attempting to arrest them when the shooting occurred. The two lawmen approached the suspects telling them that they were under arrest, and as the men withdrew their hands from their pockets they pulled out revolvers and shot and killed both officers. Nick Chiro, the pool hall's owner, shot one of the suspects as the two tried to flee. The other suspect was successful in escaping. Rodgers was survived by his wife and two children.
		NE State Trooper Vernon C. Rolfs, Lincoln County Nebraska State Trooper Vernon C. Rolfs was shot and killed at about 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, 1953, about a mile and a half east of North Platte on Highway #30. Rolfs stopped a speeding vehicle and took the driver into custody. A passenger in the suspect's car continued on toward North Platte but the vehicle stalled and the passenger then joined Rolfs and the suspect. On the east edge of North Platte, the origional suspect pulled out a .45 caliber revolver and shot the trooper in his side. Trooper Rolfs died from his wound and the suspect was later captured. Trooper Rolfs was 38 years old and survived by his wife and two children.
		Detective Frank J. Rooney, Douglas County Omaha Detective Frank J. Rooney was shot at about 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday, January 30, 1918, in a gun battle with robbery suspects after having entered a two-story bungalow at 3207 North 14th Street. Detective Rooney, along with other officers of the Omaha Police Department, received a tip about the location and hideout of a gang of thieves. Members of the gang had held up a jewelry store at 1514 Dodge Street at about 3:30 p.m. that afternoon. The officers raided the bungalow and encountered six gang members. As they began to search the room one of the suspects produced a gun and began shooting. Detective Rooney was struck in the abdomen and collapsed. He was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital and died at about 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 31, 1918.