Roll of Honor
Donald J. DeMeulle
Incident
Deputy Donald DeMeulle was killed when the helicopter he was riding in crashed into Silverwood Lake. The helicopter became entangled in high-powered power lines and fell into the lake. Deputy DeMeulle sustained severe head injuries and was trapped in the helicopter as it became submerged. The pilot, who suffered a broken back, made several heroic attempts to dive into the water and free Deputy DeMeulle's seatbelt. Deputy DeMeulle had been with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department for seven years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two young children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-49D4BA3B- 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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Donald is one person.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff DeMeulle gave the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Bernardino community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff DeMeulle.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Donald J. DeMeulle served in the U.S. Army (1979â1981) before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff Donald J. DeMeulle is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In CA, 719 of 1,837 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.1% of this state's fallen. That is 39.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, 8 of 18 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 44.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Donald J. DeMeulle's cause is highlighted.
How Donald J. DeMeulle Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Donald J. DeMeulle is highlighted in Jul.
Military Service
Donald J. DeMeulle served in the U.S. Army (1979–1981) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Donald J. DeMeulle’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
