He was born September 13, 1943, in Denver, Colorado, to Hubert and Isabella Nielsen. He grew up in Salt Lake City and graduated from Olympus High School. He served in the United States Army as a Staff Sargent.

He attended the Los Angeles Sheriff's Academy and Compton Police Academy. He earned a teaching certificate in Criminal Law from California State University. He received advanced training in forensics and firearms at the Police Supervisory School

On Feb. 18, 1986, he married Hazel Norton in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He was a Sargent with the Compton Police Department , the LA Sheriff's Dept. where he was a Homicide Detective. He was a forgery, fraud, fingerprint expert, watch commander, and supervisor. He was a criminal law teacher at California State University and a peace officer for the California Youth Authority.

He was a Christian man who loved the Lord and Savior.

He was a member of the California Public Employees Association.

He loved walking, jogging, basketball, target shooting and he especially loved nature.

He had a great Christian and giving heart; the best police officer, the bravest, smartest and loving husband and father to his three children.

He is survived by his wife, Hazel Nielsen of Ammon; sons, Christopher Nielsen of San Bernardino, California, and Brent Stewart of Boston, Massachusetts; daughter, Jennifer Nielsen of Massachusetts, and 4 grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, May 5, 2008, at the Utah Veterans Cemetery, Bluffdale, Utah, under the direction of Coltrin Mortuary. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.coltrinmortuary.com .

Map to the Utah Veterans Cemetery