Chief of Police Gregory Lynn Lange

Chief of Police Gregory Lynn Lange

Claremont Police Department, Minnesota

End of Watch Tuesday, July 5, 1988

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Gregory Lynn Lange

Chief of Police Gregory Lange was shot and killed after responding to a domestic disturbance at 2:00 am.

Chief Lange was at home when a neighbor came to his house to notify him of the incident at the neighbor's home.

When Chief Lange arrived and began assisting the female victim, two brothers turned on him, and one suspect was able to gain control of Chief Lange's service weapon. The men beat him with a shovel and then fatally shot him before both fled to Missouri, where they were later apprehended.

The shooter was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life. He was denied parole in 2002, 2012, 2020, and 2023. He will be eligible for parole again in 2023. His brother was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 18.5 years. He was paroled on October 5th, 2000. He was returned to prison in 2002 for violating his parole. Paroled again in 2003, he and two other parolees were soon caught trying to enter Mexico with a stolen car. He was returned to prison and paroled again in 2007.

Chief Lange had served in law enforcement for 16 years, serving as the Chief of Police with the Claremont Police Department for over two years. He was survived by his wife and son.

Bio

  • Age 39
  • Tour 16 years
  • Badge 361

Incident Details

  • Cause Gunfire
  • Weapon Officer's handgun
  • Offender Convicted of murder

domestic, off duty

Most Recent Reflection

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Heavenly Father, I come before You today grieved in heart over the divisions in our country; the United States of America. I grieve for every life lost to violence, regardless of color or creed. And I especially grieve this day over the senseless deaths of America’s Peace Officers whose sworn duty is to protect us from harm. Please grant comfort and hope to their families. I know from the Holy Scriptures in Romans 13 that Peace Officers have a sacred task, to enforce laws that protect the innocent and punish the guilty. I pray that You will protect them as they serve us. Give them wisdom, discernment, and a deep desire to serve You. Please surround every Peace Officer in our nation, the United States of America, with battalions of warring angels to protect them from harm. I stand in the powerful and mighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ against every work of Satan intended to inflict injury and death on our Protectors. May Satan’s power be thwarted, in Your mighty and holy name, and his plans exposed by Your Light. In the mighty and holy name of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, our Redeemer, and the Mediator between us, Heavenly Father, in prayer, and by His authority, I pray! Amen.

Please find Encouragement, Comfort, Support, and Hope from God's Word:

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
[Matthew 5:9 ESV];

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." [Psalm 23:4 ESV];

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."
[John 15:13 ESV];

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." [Matthew 5:4 ESV];

"And he [Jesus] said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." [Luke 23:43 ESV], and;

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." [John 3:16 ESV].

Minister Steven R. Closs, DDiv, MSBS, NACM
Ordained/Licensed Independent NACM Minister
The I'M PRAYING MINISTRY - "An Intercessory Prayer Ministry"
Member: Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers - USA

Captain Steven R. Closs (Retired)
Nashua NH Police Department (1974-1998)

July 4, 2025

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