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.

1989-present | 1977-1987 | 1968-1974 | 1959-1967 | 1948-1958 | 1932-1945 | 1929-1930 | 1921-1927 | 1914-1920 | 1900-1912 | 1866-1899

		Police Detective Paul B. Whitehead, Lancaster County Lincoln Police Detective Paul B. Whitehead was shot and killed at about 12:15 a.m. on Thursday, August 10, 1967, near 28th and "O" Street. Detective Whitehead and Detective Paul Merritt observed an out of state car leaving a gas station near that location and initiated a traffic stop. As Whitehead contacted a man who stepped from the vehicle, Merritt watched the other occupants. Whitehead asked the subject for identification and was shot by the subject with a concealed short shotgun. Merritt returned fire and seriously wounded the suspect. The other men escaped but were captured later. The three men were dangerous escapees from prison. Detective Whitehead was 30 years old and survived by his wife, Janet, and three children.
		Sheriff Ivan R. Newell, Thurston County Sheriff Ivan R. Newell died at about 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, January 19, 1967, as a result of injuries suffered in a head-on crash. Sheriff Newell was a passenger in a car driven by State Deputy Sheriff Wallis Miller. The two officers were heading to a call in Macy at about 4:35 p.m. when a collision occurred about three miles west of Walthill on Highway #94. Cresting a hill, Miller suddenly came upon a vehicle driven by Alonzo Watson. Mr. Watson was pulling his car out onto the highway and Miller swerved to avoid striking him. At the same time, Mrs. J. Bodlak was headed home from her job in Walthill. She saw the patrol car with the lights flashing and pulled off the highway. Miller's patrol car struck Bodlak's car nearly head-on. Miller, Mrs. Bodlak, and Sheriff Newell were all taken by ambulance to the Pender Hospital. Newell was pronounced dead a short time after arriving. Sheriff Newell was sworn into office on January 5, 1967, just two weeks earlier. He was 46 years old and survived by his wife, Fern, and six children.
		Police Detective Lt. Frank H. Soukup, Lancaster County Lincoln Police Detective Lt. Frank H. Soukup was shot at about 10:00 p.m. on Friday, December 16, 1966. Lt. Soukup and two other detectives were investigating a forgery case and went to the Midtown Motel located at 2420 "O" Street to continue the investigation. Upon arrival the officers encountered four men and a woman inside a room at 2413 "P" Street. During questioning of the suspects, one of the men produced a handgun and shot Soukup. The officers returned fire and killed the suspect. Lt. Soukup was immediately rushed to the hospital but died from his wounds. He was 53 years old and survived by his wife, Bernice, and three children.
		Marshal James D. Addison, Holt County Stuart Village Marshal James D. Addison was shot at about 10:35 p.m. on Sunday, September 27, 1964, west of the town square in Stuart. Addison had arrested an 18 year-old male for a traffic offense and jailed him, having stopped the same individual the week before and giving the same warning. The father of the arrested youth contacted the county attorney and police magistrate, wanting his son released from jail. The father encountered Addison near the square and argued with him about his son's incarceration. The man pulled a revolver and shot the Marshal twice. Addison's wife witnessed the shooting and, with assistance from two local youths, rushed him to Atkison Hospital. Addison died during surgery at about 11:00 p.m. He was 51 years old and survived by his wife, Bernice, and three children.
		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.
		Deputy Sheriff James J. Drahota, Madison County Deputy Sheriff James J. Drahota died at about 4:55 p.m. on Saturday, October 13, 1962, from injuries he suffered in a two-car crash. The collision occurred about 8 1/2 miles south of Norfolk on Highway #81, at about 1:00 p.m. when Sheriff Burt Ray Jr. observed a vehicle driven by a youth believed under age to drive. Deputy Drahota was a passenger in the patrol car and the two officers followed the youth until he turned into a farm lane. Sheriff Ray pulled to the shoulder and then began to turn his car around. As he began to turn the car around on the highway, a northbound car slammed into the passenger side of the patrol car. Six others, including Sheriff Ray, were hospitalized following the crash. Deputy Drahota was 52 years old and survived by his wife, Florence, and eight children.
		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.
		Officer John E. Costello, Douglas County Omaha Motorcycle Officer John E. Costello died from injuries sustained when his police motorcycle collided with a car near 48th and Center on May 22, 1961. Officer Costello was on patrol heading eastbound when a small, foreign car turned left in front of him. Officer Costello remained in a coma until he passed away at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 31, 1961. He was 33 years old and survived by his wife, Rita, and five children.
		Sheriff Samuelson D. Johnson, Nance County Sheriff Samuelson D. Johnson was shot and killed at about 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 15, 1961, while serving a warrant on a subject believed to be insane. Johnson and Special Deputy Aaron Hadfield went to the Hubert Heule residence located about 6 miles southeast of Fullerton. When they arrived, Johnson went into the house and asked Hadfield to wait. When Johnson didn't return, Hadfield went to the door of the house and observed Johnson in a struggle with Heule. Johnson managed to escape and the two lawmen sought cover in a nearby barn. Heule had obtained a shotgun and came after the two men. Johnson instructed Hadfield to run out the back door while he attempted to make it to his car where he had a revolver in the glove box. Hadfield escaped and watched in horror as Sheriff Johnson was shot down in the laneway to the farm. Hadfield then saw Heule flee in his modified car, but he was later captured in Kansas. Sheriff Johnson was 60 years old and survived by his wife and three children.
		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.