End of watch in Larimer County

 

View of a beet sugar plant in Fort Collins (Larimer County), Colorado,, in about 1907. 

 Welcome to "the Jungle."

By Rob Carrigan, robcarrigan1@gmail.com 

There is a quote engraved on the National Law Enforcement Memorial, “It is not how these officers died that made them heroes – it is how they lived.”

"To the families, I know it’s hard. May the souls of those you love and with whom you served rest in peace and rise in glory," says President Joe Biden, May, 15, 2022.

 

"While Fort Collins has experienced its share of tumultuous situations over the years, it has fortunately not faced a large number of police officer deaths. There were, however, two men killed in the line of duty," says Fort Collins Police.

"Joseph N. Allen died on July 3, 1907, at age 45. Allen often patrolled some of the city's tougher areas such as one located just over the bridge on Linden Street. It was nicknamed "the jungles" because of the houses of prostitution, bars, and dance halls operating just outside of the city limits and drawing citizens into the unseemly side of life," according to the city.

"Allen left the Larimer House on Jefferson Street about 7 p.m., telling the manager, "You may not see me again until after the 4th. I'm going to have a good time." At 9 p.m., he was seen by a local physician making a house call in the jungles. The doctor reported Allen having what appeared to be a friendly conversation with Scotty Hall and at 10:30 p.m., Roy Kelly heard groans from the alley near Hall's barns. He found Officer Allen unconscious on the ground in a pool of blood. Allen was taken to the hospital but later died, never regaining consciousness." 

Investigators found a bloody brick near where Officer Allen's body was discovered. His gun and club had been stolen. The coroner's jury ruled Allen died from a crushed skull. Three men were arrested, but released based on a lack of evidence. Three other men, were detained as witnesses, only to be released later. In 1914, one of those witnesses was arrested, but released due to a lack of sufficient evidence. Officer Joseph Allen's death remains Fort Collins' first cold case file. 

In Loveland, the town marshall was also killed in July, a little more than six years later.  Date of Death: 07/13/1915, 

Loveland Town Marshall, Frank Peak, was fatally shot at age 35. His body was found draped over the railing on the east side of an irrigation bridge over the English Canal on Lincoln Avenue, south of 2nd Street in Loveland. He was killed in a shootout with suspects who were never found. The case was re-opened in 1991 but is now inactive because all known witnesses are deceased, " 

 

More than One-hundred years ago, also in July, Loveland night marshal Frank Peak became the first and only Loveland officer ever killed in the line of duty.

Loveland officials will hold a commemoration event in honor of Peak and his family’s sacrifice May 2, on the 100th annivesary of his death, kicking off Historic Preservation Month and Fallen Officer Month.

On July 13, 1915, at 2:30 a.m. Peak was shot and killed on duty crossing a footbridge over English Ditch near Second Street after walking a Loveland woman home.

Despite a few initial suspects, including two men who quit their jobs at the sugar factory and fled town the day after his death, his homicide remains unsolved.

Nikki Garshelis, business services coordinator for the city of Loveland, said she is looking to make last May’s “Tour de Pants,” which was was an exhibition surrounding a pair of trousers worn by 19th century trapper Mariano Medina, an annual event.

“The idea is that we want to communicate the history of the time that we choose and also what law enforcement was like back then,” Garshelis said. “It wasn’t necessarily organized like it is today, a lot of marshals had other jobs.”

This year’s event, which is free to the public, will include a guided bike tour with Loveland historian Jeff Feneis, a presentation by some of Peak’s descendents including Kevin Bates from Seattle, Wash., a display of Peak artifacts at the Loveland Museum/Gallery, food and entertainment events including a frozen pants contest.

“Last year I froze five pairs of blue jeans and whoever got them over their pants and zipped up first won,” Garshelis said.

While the event is intended to commemorate Peak in a lighthearted, educational way, Loveland Police Chief Luke Hecker said the Peak homicide speaks to our community even 100 years after the fact.

“I think the idea would be to focus on Frank Peak and his family’s sacrifice,” Hecker said. “And to honor the blessing to this community that he is still the only one. That says a lot about the community.”

Corwin Schlingman, Peak’s granddaughter, said that his wife had a hard time after his death, illustrating just how different things are for officers today.

“After the incident, she couldn’t find a job and she had to go to Estes Park to work,” Schlingman said. “Now, when (Officer) Garrett (Osilka) was shot, his hospital bills were paid and everything was covered. There was no money for Nell, which was too bad, but that’s the way it works.”

 "The second Fort Collins officer killed was Charles Brockman, 36. Witnesses said a suspect stabbed Albert Kelly in the back on December 17, 1911. Brockman heard someone yell "murder" and responded by chasing the suspect. Brockman was wearing a long coat that held his badge, but as he gave pursuit, he discarded his coat throwing it in the door of the marshal's office. The suspect hid behind a building at Pine and Jefferson and, as Brockman approached, shot him in the head and neck. As Brockman fell, he shot the suspect, grazing his hip. The crowd took Brockman to the Armstrong Hotel on Pine Street where he died immediately. John Kaiser, a Union Pacific night watchman, witnessed the action and fired his pistol hitting the fleeing suspect in the right arm. The suspect kept running and disappeared," 

 The story says a posse formed by Sheriff Clarence Carlton and Marshal Reid Strahan searched surrounding towns and information was telegraphed across the state. The next day, the bus driver of an open motorcar headed to LaSalle reported a man on his bus was bleeding profusely. Sheriff's deputies arrested the suspect as he got off the bus. Sheriff Carlton picked him up and transported him to Fort Collins on Dec. 18.

The suspect went to trial April 1, 1912, was found guilty, and sentenced to death. It was Larimer County's first death sentence. His attorney appealed saying his client was insane, and on November 24, 1912, a stay of execution was granted. In 1915, the court ordered a new trial based on two things: evidence of insanity and the claim that the suspect didn't know Brockman was a police officer. The death penalty was dropped and changed to life in prison, which was later changed to life in a mental institution in Pueblo.

"Allen's murder was well-known, but Brockman was forgotten until 1988, when Brockman's great-grandson contacted Tom McLellan (then a lieutenant) with Fort Collins Police Services. After researching the events, McLellan and others in the department made efforts to ensure recognition for the two fallen officers. Joseph Allen and Charles Brockman were honored on May 7, 1999, during a memorial ceremony at the Colorado State Patrol Training Facility at Camp George West in Golden, Colorado. Their names were inscribed on the memorial wall that stands outside the facility and were also placed on the national monument in Washington, D.C. Coloradan," says  Jan. 11, 2014 newspaper article.

"Officer Joseph Allen, a relatively young man who was said to have connections in “the jungle,” that unincorporated area surrounding the sugar beet factory, was murdered in 1907 by an unknown assailant. The case is still listed as an unsolved murder by Fort Collins police."

“The jungle” was an area known to have problems with crime from time to time. Because it was not inside the city limits, liquor was available there in what were known as dives. Allen, who apparently had a wife and family in Kansas, had come to Fort Collins on a bicycle, according to historian Rose Brinks. He found a job in the police department and liked to tell people that he knew people in the jungle and could deal with problems there. Unfortunately, on the night of July 3, his luck ran out.

Allen was ambushed as he strolled along on his beat. There were numerous large cottonwood trees in the area at that time, and his attacker evidently concealed himself behind one or behind some bushes, jumping out to attack Allen from behind. There is evidence that Allen tried to defend himself, but the assault was so unexpected that he could not. He was hit in the head repeatedly, probably with a brick. Moaning and unconscious when found, he died at the hospital a few hours later.

One newspaper account indicates that Allen had once been a Pinkerton man, serving with the detective agency founded just before the Civil War. He later served in the Army in Cuba and the Philippines. He was only in his late 40s when he was killed.

"Shortly before the murder, a doctor making a house call nearby reported having seen Allen talking with one of the men who were later arrested; however, they appeared to be having a friendly conversation, with no evidence of anger between them. This sighting took place about an hour before the murder but was in the exact spot where the attack happened," says Fort Collins historian Barbara Fleming.

A jury was empaneled to investigate the incident and determined, after viewing the body, that Allen had died from several blows to the head.

Although the police appealed to the public to help solve this shocking crime, and two men were subsequently arrested, no charges were brought and no one came forward with information. The murder appeared to have been planned, for it was known that Allen did his rounds nightly in that area. Allen’s revolver, club and knife had been taken by the murderer.

"City officials, businessmen and citizens were aroused and angered by the murder, some vowing to get rid of the jungle, “a plague spot,” altogether. Others were deeply concerned about the city’s reputation as a law-abiding community. In time, the jungle changed, and other events diverted attention. Most people forgot after awhile — but the police have not," said Barbara Fleming, historian in articles about the murder.

Barbara Fleming was a native of Fort Collins and author of several books of local history. Fleming died in January of 2022. 

Fort Collins Police Services last lost an officer on Dec. 17, 1911, when night policeman Charles Brockman, 52, was shot and killed by a murder suspect while chasing him downtown. The suspect was later apprehended and convicted of murder, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.

The agency’s one other loss was July 3, 1907, when officer Joseph Allen was assaulted by unknown assailants. He was found unconscious in the street and had been beaten on the back of the head with a blunt object, according to the website.

According to the Coloradoan, in a 2018 newspaper story,  Larimer County Sheriff’s Office has lost four officers in the line of duty, though none were to homicide: deputy Travis Wayne Sass died in a crash in 2004, Cpl. Ronald Rexford Beatty died of a heart attack in 1995, Sheriff Robert Watson died of a heart attack in 1979 and deputy James Wendell Mitchell died in a crash in 1968. 

The Loveland Police Department lost one officer in the line of duty, Marshall Frank Peak who was killed by gunfire July 13, 1915. He was shot and killed while on night patrol and his body was later found on a bridge with two gunshot wounds. His killers were never found.

Former Windsor resident and Colorado State Patrol Trooper Taylor Thyfault was killed May 23, 2015, when he was struck by a vehicle fleeing from other officers on Colorado Highway 66, near Weld County Road 1. The driver was convicted and sentenced to life plus 342 years in prison.