Durango Police Department, Colorado
End of Watch: Saturday, August 24, 1974
Age: 24
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Fire
Date of Incident: August 24, 1974
Weapon Used: Arson
Suspect Info: Released in 1994
Corporal Gale Emerson was killed as a result of an arson fire at the 800 block of Maine Street in Durango at 4:00 am.
Corporal Emerson had just finished his shift at 3:00 am but came back to the station to help when the fire call came in. He and a firefighter were attempting to evacuate an apartment building that was burning. During the evacuation, a wall exploded, killing Corporal Emerson and the firefighter.
The suspect was convicted and sent to a mental hospital but was released in 1994.
Corporal Emerson was survived by his expectant wife.