EOW: Sunday, September 12, 1976
Reserve Officer Fred Bergmann was shot and killed when he and a full-time officer responded to a burglary-in-progress at a local business.
Officer Bergmann found the rear door to the business opened and went inside to investigate. He was shot and killed as he entered the business. The suspect was apprehended a short time later.
The subject was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 40 years to life in April of 1978. Because of alleged threats against his life he was transferred to the Arizona State Penitentiary. He escaped in July of 1980 and was captured in New York City in March of 1981. He was returned to the Arizona State Penitentiary where he escaped again on September 19th, 1987. He was arrested in New York City two months later for aggravated assault and burglary.
Officer Down Memorial Page