Officer Stephen Dale Hensley

Stephen Dale Hensley

Officer Steve Hensley was shot and killed after being abducted by a suspect he and another officer had been chasing at 1:00 am.

The incident began when Officer Hensley and another officer attempted to pull over a speeding motorcycle. When the subject did not stop, a pursuit ensued. When the subject fled into a hayfield at Colorado 92 and Read, the officer pursued the subject on foot. During a foot chase, the suspect overpowered Officer Hensley and forced him to drive to another location while the officer ran to a house to get more help. As he was driving towards Hotchkiss, the subject shot him, and a struggle ensued, causing the vehicle to crash into a ditch.

The suspect, 20, was apprehended, and it was discovered that he had a property bond for burglary charges. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was committed at Colorado State Mental Hospital in Pueblo. He was still there on October 21, 2022.

Officer Hensley had served with the Delta Police Department for five months. He was survived by his wife and two daughters.