Roll of Honor
Andrew Schmeltz
Incident
Conservation Officer Andrew Schmeltz was murdered while checking an illegal trap line along Carp River north of Negaunee, Michigan. When he failed to return by nightfall other officers began to search for him. During the search the officers heard a series of explosions and went to investigate. They located a large crater with one of Officer Schmeltz's legs in it and other debris scattered around. It was later determined that a local trapper had murdered Officer Schmeltz by shooting him in the head with a .22 caliber rifle and was attempting to cover up the murder with dynamite. The man was arrested and sentenced to life in prison. He was later released in 1981.
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- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-0EF978E8- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Conservation Officer Schmeltz served with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Thank you for your service to the Lansing community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Conservation Officer Schmeltz.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Conservation Officer Andrew Schmeltz is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In MI, 426 of 719 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.2% of this state's fallen. That is 59.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Michigan Department of Natural Resources, 5 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Andrew Schmeltz's cause is highlighted.
How Andrew Schmeltz Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Andrew Schmeltz is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Andrew Schmeltz was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Michigan Department of Natural Resources are honored on badge.nw.
