Chief of Police John Louis Colvig

John Louis Colvig

Chief of Police John Colvig was shot and killed when he and several other officers were attacked by a group of Apache warriors and scouts who had deserted from the United States Cavalry.

The group had been attacking villages and camps along the trail to the San Carlos Apache Reservation. They encountered Chief Colvig on the Globe Road approximately 10 miles west of San Carlos while he was handing out ration tickets with the other officers.

The officers were attacked by the group and Chief Colvig was shot and killed. The group continued to flee but were pursued by troops from Fort McDowell and Camp Verde. When the troops located the men a shootout ensued in which several of the troops were killed. The surviving troops fled back to the San Carlos Apache Reservation.