Fallen Officer Memorial
Thirteen troopers of the Nebraska State Patrol have given their lives in the line of duty. We are forever grateful to them for their service and eternally indebted to the these troopers for giving the ultimate sacrifice in the name of public safety for our state.
Click here for an interactive page with additional details about each trooper.
Loyal Zink
Trooper Loyal Zink, badge #43, was appointed to the Nebraska State Patrol in 1937. He gave his life in the line of duty on June 13, 1945, in an automobile accident while pursuing a suspect west of Sidney, Nebraska.
John Meistrell
Sergeant John Meistrell, badge #67, was appointed to the Nebraska State Patrol in 1940. He gave his life in the line of duty on April 10, 1953, in an automobile accident on icy roads north of Fremont, Nebraska.
Vernon Rolfs
Trooper Vernon Rolfs, badge #129, was appointed to the Nebraska State Patrol in 1950. He gave his life in the line of duty on May 30, 1953 when he was killed by gunfire after stopping a speeding motorist near North Platte, Nebraska.
Marvin Hansen
Trooper Marvin Hansen, badge #98, was appointed to the Nebraska State Patrol in 1947. He gave his life in the line of duty on April 8, 1954, when he was killed by gunfire after stopping the driver of a stolen car near Valentine, Nebraska.
Duane Nichols
Trooper Duane Nichols, badge #133, was appointed to the Nebraska State Patrol in 1950. He gave his life in the line of duty on July 24, 1958, as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident involving a drunk driver near Waterloo, Nebraska.
Raymond Koerber
Trooper Raymond Koerber, badge #108, was appointed to the Nebraska State Patrol in 1947. He gave his life in the line of duty on September 18, 1961, in an automobile accident when he attempted to avoid colliding with a vehicle making an illegal turn near Plattsmouth, Nebraska.
George Amos, Jr.
Trooper George Amos, Jr., badge #9, was appointed to the Nebraska State Patrol in 1970. He gave his life in the line of duty on April 20, 1973, when he was killed by gunfire after stopping a suspected drunk driver who turned out to be a fugitive.
Michael Farber
Trooper Michael Farber, badge #427, was appointed to the Nebraska State Patrol in 1978. He gave his life in the line of duty on August 24, 1980, when he was struck by a car being pursued by fellow officers on Interstate 80 near Aurora, Nebraska.
Robert Chab
Trooper Robert Chab, badge #221, was appointed to the Nebraska State Patrol in 1963. He gave his life in the line of duty on January 6, 1984, when he was struck by a car while performing vehicle checks near Falls City, Nebraska.
Donald Matejka
Trooper Donald Matejka, badge #192, was appointed to the Nebraska State Patrol in 1959. He gave his life in the line of duty on December 27, 1989, when he suffered cardiac arrest while subduing a suspect involved in a domestic disturbance in Madison County, Nebraska.
Mark Wagner
Trooper Mark Wagner, badge #168, was appointed to the Nebraska State Patrol in 1986. He gave his life in the line of duty on March 4, 1999, when he suffered an accidental gunshot wound during training exercises in North Platte, Nebraska.
Jerry Smith
Trooper Jerry Smith, badge #373, was appointed to the Nebraska State Patrol in 2014. He gave his life in the line of duty on June 20, 2019, in an automobile accident when another vehicle crossed the center line and struck his cruiser near Bridgeport, Nebraska.
Kyle McAcy
Trooper Kyle McAcy, badge #302, was appointed to the Nebraska State Patrol in 2014. He gave his life in the line of duty on February 17, 2025, when he was struck by a vehicle while assisting motorists who had been involved in a crash during a snowstorm near Ashland, Nebraska.
Nebraska Law Enforcement Memorial
The Nebraska Law Enforcement Memorial is located in Grand Island. These thirteen troopers are listed among the many officers from around Nebraska who have given their life in service to this state.
