Image Number159-6131Dateca. 1914DescriptionColorado Springs Police Department detectives (left to right) John Rowan, Irvin B. Bruce (became chief of police in 1941), and John Gast (later an El Paso County deputy sheriff).PhotographerunknownLocationColorado Springs (Colo.)SubjectPolicemenBruce, Irvin "Dad" B., 1893-1960Notes Colorado Springs Police Department Chief of Detectives John Rowan was shot and killed on 13 September 1918 after he and other officers attempted to arrest several members of the notorious Lewis-Jones Gang. He had learned that the gang was headed towards the city and was informed they were at a local gas station. As the officers arrived, they were engaged in a shootout and Chief Rowan was shot in the head. It is thought that the same men were responsible for the murder of Denver, Colorado, Policeman Luther McMahill the following day, although the identities of Policeman McMahill's killers were never confirmed. Several of the suspects were arrested. Two others were shot and killed in Los Angeles County, California, following a shootout in which Deputy Michael Van Vliet, of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, was shot and killed. Chief Rowan was survived by his wife and son. He is memorialized at Panel: 63-W: 13 on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC and on the Colorado Law Enforcement Memorial in Golden. MSS0159 Box 1. Thanks to J Richards of Colorado Springs for background research on this image.CollectionIrvin B. Bruce CollectionPublisherPikes Peak Library DistrictOriginal FormatphotographsPhysical Description5 1/8 x 3 1/8 b&w printRightshttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/. You may use items from PPLD’s digital collections freely for private study, research and educational purposes. Any other use, including reproduction, publication or exhibition, should be requested through Regional History & Genealogy at PPLD. Proper credit and citation should accompany any use of these materials.
