Arvada Police Department, Colorado
End of Watch: Friday, July 28, 1961
Age: 26
Tour of Duty: 2 years, 6 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Drowned
Date of Incident: July 28, 1961
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Patrolman Robert Beghtol drowned while conducting an underwater scuba exercise with other members of the agency's scuba team.
They were diving in the reservoir near the intersection of W 60th ASvenue and Tennyson Street when Patrolman Beghtol incurred cramps due to the cold water. His equipment then became entangled with debris in the bottom of the pit, preventing him from surfacing.
Patrolman Beghtol had served with the Arvada Police Department for 2-1/2 years. His grandfather was the first uniformed policeman to serve full-time on the agency. He was survived by his wife, four sons, parents, sister, and grandparents.