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Patrolman Melvin E. Phillips | Colorado State Patrol, Colorado
Colorado State Patrol, Colorado

Patrolman

Melvin E. Phillips

Colorado State Patrol, Colorado

End of Watch: Thursday, February 2, 1956

Biographical Info

Age: 27
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Date of Incident: February 2, 1956
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available

Patrolman Melvin Phillips and Patrolman Floyd Gresham were killed when their cruiser was struck by a tractor-trailer while they conducted a traffic stop.

They had stopped another tractor-trailer on Route 40 (modern day U.S. Highway 287) and were issuing a citation when the other semi rear-ended their cruiser, crushing it between the two trucks, and pushing both vehicles more than 65 feet.

Patrolman Phillips had been employed with the Colorado State Patrol for two years.