Wichita Police Department, Kansas
End of Watch: Friday, August 14, 1931
Age: 40
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: August 14, 1931
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Detective Merle Colver was shot and killed while questioning two robbery suspects in their hotel room.
As he began to search the hotel room he was shot by one of the men. The suspect was arrested within 24 hours and convicted of Detective Colver's murder.
The murderer escaped from prison on May 30, 1933, but was shot and seriously wounded by a posse on December 30, 1933. He was returned to prison and died from his wounds on January 6, 1934.
Detective Colver was survived by his wife. He was buried in Clearwater Cemetery, Clearwater, Sedgwick County, Kansas.