Oshkosh Police Department, Nebraska
End of Watch: Friday, April 9, 1971
Age: 32
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: 001
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: April 8, 1971
Weapon Used: Rifle; .22 caliber
Suspect Info: Captured and convicted
Chief of Police Richard Vandermate was shot and killed while responding to a burglary call at a tavern on Main Street.
He observed the suspect inside the tavern when he arrived and ordered him to surrender. The teenage suspect opened fire with a .22 caliber rifle and mortally wounded the chief. Chief Vandermate was able to crawl back to his patrol car and turned on the siren to get the attention of nearby citizens who took him to a local hospital. He succumbed to his wounds the following day.
The subject was caught and convicted, but served less than 20 years.
Chief Vandermate had served in law enforcement for 10 years. He was survived by his wife and four children.