Denver Police Department, Colorado
End of Watch: Wednesday, January 20, 1965
Age: 41
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: 50-51
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 20, 1965
Weapon Used: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Patrolman Paul Major was shot and killed during a foot pursuit. He and his partner had stopped a car which turned out to be stolen. Several of the occupants of the vehicle fled on foot and Patrolman Major chased one of them. As he entered an alley on South Broadway he was shot in the chest and head.
The suspect, 32, was apprehended and sentenced to life. He was paroled in 1983 but sent back to prison the same year for violating his parole. He was paroled again in 1986 and returned to prison in 1987 for violating his parole again. He was to be eligible for parole a third time in November 1987.
Patrolman Major was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.