MONDAY, May 11, 2026 |
Photo – National Police Week announcement – Courtesy Rawlins Police Department
The Rawlins Police Department is hosting a National Police Week event to honor Carbon County’s fallen peace officers.
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which it falls as National Police Week.
This Thursday, May 14th, the Rawlins Police Department will celebrate National Police Week with a short ceremony on the front steps of the police department, located at 215 5th Street. Police Chief Mike Ward said the event will honor law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice or were disabled in the line of duty.
Chief Ward said National Police Week also recognizes the families of fallen officers. The police chief said every member of the law enforcement community relies on the support of their loved ones.
According to the Officer Down Memorial Page website, which tracks every fallen law enforcement officer in the country, 38 officers have died in the line of duty this year, with Border Patrol Agent Sean M. McDonough and Massachusetts State Police Trooper Kevin Trainor killed this month.
In Carbon County, twelve officers have died in the line of duty, beginning with Deputy Sheriff Robert Widdowfield and Union Pacific detective Tip Vincent, who on August 19th, 1878, were killed by the outlaw Big Nose George Parrott and his gang.
On April 20th, 1903, Rawlins Police Officer John Baxter and Lieutenant Thomas Kling were ambushed and killed by a store owner while responding to a “shots-fired” call.
In 1907, Wyoming Department of Corrections Guard Ed Samuelson was killed by an inmate at the Wyoming State Penitentiary.
In 1945, Wyoming Game and Fish agents Bill Lakanen and Don Simpson were shot to death in the Sierra Madre mountain range near Rawlins while investigating reports of illegal beaver hunting. The suspect died in a cabin fire before he could be taken into custody.
Department of Corrections Lieutenant Orville Lee Ventling was killed by two inmates on March 4th, 1975. Lieutenant Ventling was a U.S. Army veteran.
Wyoming Highway Patrolman Peter Visser died on October 12th, 1981, after a drunk driver rear-ended his cruiser while he was investigating a traffic accident on Interstate 80.
On June 26th, 1997, Department of Corrections Corporal Wayne Martinez was killed by three inmates during an escape attempt at the Wyoming State Penitentiary. Corporal Martinez was a seven‑year veteran with the Wyoming Department of Corrections.
On October 20th, 2014, Wyoming Highway Patrol K9 Robbie was struck by a vehicle on Interstate 80 while performing a vehicle search.
And finally, 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the death of Rawlins Police Lieutenant Delavan Lewis Dixon, who died on June 4th, 1996, while participating in the FBI Physical Fitness Challenge in Quantico, Virginia. Chief Mike Ward said Dixon’s death is still felt in the Rawlins Police Department.
Chief Ward said representatives from the Rawlins Police Department and the other Carbon County law enforcement agencies will take turns reading the names of those who lost their lives while protecting their community.
After the flag ceremony, the Rawlins Police Department will open the station to the public. Chief Ward encouraged residents to visit.
During the May 5th Rawlins City Council meeting, the governing body declared this as National Police Week.
The Rawlins Police Department’s National Police Week ceremony and open house will take place this Thursday, May 14th, beginning at 2:30 p.m. Following the event, the public is invited to tour the police station from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Contact Rawlins Police Administrative Secretary Katrina James at 324-4503 for more information.
