Union Pacific Railroad Police Department, Railroad Police
End of Watch: Wednesday, April 6, 1977
Age: 62
Tour of Duty: 36 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: April 6, 1977
Weapon Used: Shotgun; 12 gauge
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Chief Special Agent Dean McLaughlin was shot and killed by a subordinate officer in Denver, Colorado.
The officer held a grudge against Chief Special Agent McLaughlin over a wage dispute. The officer ambushed him in the parking lot outside of the Union Pacific Building and shot opened fire with a shotgun as Chief Special Agent McLaughlin sat in his car.
The man was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Chief Special Agent McLaughlin had been with the Union Pacific Railroad Police for 36 years. He was survived by his wife and three children.
He had just been elected as president of the Colorado Law Enforcement Officers' Association prior to his murder.