CHEYENNE – Oct. 12 marks a sad day in the history of the Wyoming Highway Patrol as it marks the day the first patrolman died in the line of duty.

On October 11th, 1981, Patrolman Pete Visser was investigating a crash when the parked patrol car he was seated in was struck from behind by a drunk driver in a pickup truck. Patrolman Visser suffered critical head and neck injuries from the crash. Patrolman Visser succumbed to his injuries the next day, October 12th.

Patrolman Visser was the first patrolman of the Wyoming Highway Patrol to die in the line of duty since the agency was formed in 1933. Patrolman Visser’s ultimate sacrifice is never forgotten as we remember him today.