Dennis "Dee" Lund

"Service Above Self"

Dedication to the Very End

Trooper Dennis Lavelle Lund, known to everyone as "Dee," was a 37-year-old veteran of the Utah Highway Patrol. A dedicated officer with seven years of service, he was known for his commitment to his community and his fellow troopers.

Dee was stationed in Green River, patrolling the lonely and often dangerous stretches of Interstate 70. He was a devoted family man, and on the day of his passing, he was looking forward to a well-earned break. He was scheduled to go off duty and head straight to a Father's Day fishing and camping trip with his wife and children. He was just minutes away from that vacation when the radio crackled with a call for assistance.

End of Watch: June 16, 1993

On June 16, 1993, Trooper Lund responded to assist in a high-speed pursuit of two teenage suspects in a stolen vehicle heading west on I-70. The situation was escalating rapidly, with the suspects firing upon officers from their moving vehicle.

Trooper Lund joined the pursuit column to help stop the threat. As the chase continued near Green River, he was ordered to move forward to attempt to disable the vehicle. As he maneuvered his patrol car, the suspects opened fire with a .22 caliber rifle.

Trooper Lund was struck by a bullet that deflected off his vehicle's door post while he was behind the wheel. His patrol car veered off the roadway, and despite the immediate life-saving efforts of fellow officers—including a deputy who found him moments later—he succumbed to his injuries.

A Monument to Sacrifice

The tragedy of Trooper Lund's death was felt deeply across the state. The two teenagers were apprehended and convicted for their roles in the shooting. Years later, at a parole hearing, the shooter expressed deep remorse, admitting to his "cowardice" that day.

Today, a monument stands on Interstate 70 near the site of the incident. It serves as a permanent reminder to travelers of the sacrifice made on that asphalt, ensuring that while the traffic moves on, the memory of Dee Lund remains fixed in the landscape he protected.

Never Forgotten

Trooper Dee Lund left behind his wife, Brenda, and their two children, Tina and Jared. He is buried in the West Weber Cemetery next to his infant son, Lyle, who predeceased him.

He is remembered not for the violent way he died, but for the honorable way he lived: protecting his community until the very last moment.

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