Colorado State Patrol, Colorado
End of Watch: Wednesday, October 28, 1959
Age:
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 19, 1959
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Corporal Richard Edstrom succumbed to gunshot wounds received over one month earlier in Durango while attempting to apprehend three escaped convicts from New Mexico.
During the initial chase the suspect vehicle was stopped and two suspects immediately gave up. The third suspect ran through a cafe onto another street where he was confronted by Corporal Edstrom. During the ensuing gun battle the suspect was shot and killed and Corporal Edstrom was shot two times. He later succumbed to those wounds.
Corporal Edstrom had served with the Colorado State Patrol for just eight years.