Patrolman Thomas Ray Carpenter
Colorado State Patrol
Colorado
End of Watch: Thursday, December 27, 1973

Biographical Info
Age: 31
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Badge Number: 208

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Thursday, December 27, 1973
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Case never solved

Patrolman Carpenter was shot and killed with his own weapon after being abducted while on patrol. He had stopped a vehicle at Broadway and U.S. 36 in Denver and became engaged in a struggle with the driver. The suspect gained control of Patrolman Carpenter's handgun and forced him to drive to another location. At approximately 1000 hours, Patrolman Carpenter radioed in his position as being on I-70 and Havana which was out of his assigned area. He was found a short time later in his patrol car in Montbello with four gunshot wounds in his back. The suspect had shot him from the back seat of the patrol car as Patroman Carpenter sat in the driver's seat.

The prime suspect was shot and killed in an unrelated event several years later. No suspects have ever been apprehended in connection with Patrolman Carpenter's death.

Patrolman Carpenter had been with the agency for over five years and was survived by his wife, daughter and two sons.