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

		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.
		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 George H. Brock, Loup County Sheriff George H. Brock was shot and fatally wounded on Wednesday, October 16, 1940. The shooting occurred at about 12:40 p.m. at the Valleyview School as draft registration was taking place. Sheriff Brock had trouble with Richard Birkes about two weeks prior when he attempted to serve an eviction notice. Brock was met with threats against his life when he attempted to evict the family from their ranch. Knowing that Birkes would come to the school for draft registration on the 16th, Brock returned to Taylor and asked that a warrant be issued for him. When Birkes showed up Brock attempted to arrest him and a scuffle ensued. Brock was shot in the face and shoulder and died a short time later. Birkes was captured and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Sheriff Brock was 43 years old and survived by his wife, Lela May, and six 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.
		Federal Agent Norval L. DeArmond, Gage County Federal Agent Norval L. DeArmond died as a result of injuries sustained in a one-car crash that occurred on December 8, 1939, southeast of Barneston, Nebraska. Agent DeArmond and Agent Jack Lee were pursuing a stolen vehicle suspected of illegally importing alcohol into Kansas, a dry state. Agent DeArmond was seriously injured when the vehicle the agents were operating failed to negotiate a curve on a county road and crashed. DeArmond was 53 years of age at the time of his death.
		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.
		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..
		Marshal Albert L. Suverkrubbe, Washington County Ft. Calhoun Marshal Albert L. Suverkrubbe was shot at about 3:00 a.m. on Monday, December 5, 1932 while attempting to arrest two men suspected of burglary. When Suverkrubbe located a suspicious vehicle in town he attempted to make a stop and, as the subjects began to drive away, he fired at their vehicle. The suspects returned fire and struck the lawman once in the lower abdomen near his right hip. Marshal Suverkrubbe was taken to Covenant Hospital. Initially it was believed that he would survive, but infection set in and he died from the complications to the injury. Marshal Suverkrubbe was 46 years old and survived by his wife, Frances, and two sons.
		Special Duty Patrolman Marion F. Marshall, Lancaster County Lincoln Special Duty Patrolman Marion F. Marshall died on Friday, September 9, 1932, after being shot at about midnight two days prior. Patrolman Marshall observed a suspicious subject in the alley between 15th and 16th Streets and between "G" and "H" Streets in Lincoln. When the Patrolman stopped to identify him, the subject pulled a concealed .32 caliber revolver and shot Marshall. He managed to crawl to the governor's mansion and summoned help from Governor Bryan. The Governor summoned authorities and Marshall was taken to the hospital where he passed away. Patrolman Marshall was 35 years old and survived by his wife, Eva, and three children.
		Special Agent Norman G. Fowler, Dodge County Union Pacific Railroad Special Agent Norman G. Fowler was shot and killed at about 9:00 p.m. on Monday, August 29, 1932 near Ames, Nebraska. Agent Fowler had been assigned to guard a shipment leaving from Fremont and was found alongside the tracks about a mile east of Ames. He had been shot in the head and chest with a .45 caliber handgun. Agent Fowler was 42 years old and survived by his wife.
		Federal Agent Chester A. Mason, Gage County Federal Agent Chester A. Mason was shot and killed at about 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 12, 1932, about three miles southeast of Beatrice. Agent Mason had enlisted the aid of an informant and set a trap for a man suspected of manufacturing and distributing illegal alcohol. After meeting with the suspect, Agent Mason was shot in the head and killed instantly as he attempted to arrest the man. Agent Mason was 28 years old and survived by his wife and three children.
		Special Agent Benjamin J. Kelly, Richardson County Missouri Pacific Special Agent Benjamin J. Kelly was shot at about 9:45 p.m. on Friday, March 11, 1932, near Salem, Nebraska, as he and two other officers searched for suspects involved in stealing copper wire. Agent Kelly and others were informed that thieves were stealing the wire from telephone lines and the lawmen went to investigate. Kelly and U.P. Special Agent Oscar Peterson, along with Richardson County Sheriff's Deputy Ivan Weltmer, observed a car as it pulled out of a dead-end lane on the J. M. Wickham farm. As the officers pulled up along side the suspects' car, shots were fired and Kelly was hit while seated in the passenger seat. He died about 30 minutes later. Agent Kelly was 56 years old and survived by his wife and two children.