In the late morning light of June 18, 1986, a day that marked his wedding anniversary and fell just two months shy of his planned retirement, Jefferson County Deputy Sheriff William James Truesdale was working an off-duty security job at the Citywide Bank on South Wadsworth Boulevard in Lakewood, Colorado. At 53 years old, the male deputy was a seasoned officer, familiar with the risks that came with the badge. That morning, the inherent dangers of his profession tragically materialized.
Two armed men, their faces obscured by ski masks, stormed into the bank with the intent to rob it. Deputy Truesdale, without hesitation, confronted the assailants. In the ensuing confrontation, one of the gunmen opened fire, striking Truesdale twice in the chest. The wounds proved to be fatal, and despite efforts to save him at St. Anthony's hospital, he was pronounced dead. The brazen act of violence cut short the life of a dedicated officer and left a family to grieve a profound loss.
The suspects fled the scene, but their freedom was short-lived. Law enforcement launched a thorough investigation that ultimately led to the identification and capture of the two men responsible for Deputy Truesdale's murder. It was discovered that both individuals had previous encounters with the law and had been incarcerated in the Jefferson County Jail, where Truesdale had served as a detentions deputy. Following their arrests, both suspects were tried and subsequently sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Deputy Sheriff William James Truesdale.
