End of Watch December 7, 1933
Age 31
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
The Vigil Panel 67 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrol Inspector Doyne Melton was shot and killed as he and several other inspectors attempted to apprehend 13 smugglers at the foot of Park Street as they waded ashore in El Paso, Texas, with 150 cases of illegal liquor. One smuggler hidden on the American side opened fire, as did the other smugglers. Inspector Melton was struck in the heart in the opening volley and died at the scene. The other inspectors shot and killed two smugglers and wounded another as they fled back into Mexico. Inspector Melton was a United States Marine Corps veteran and served with the United States Border Patrol for six years. He was survived by his wife. He was buried in Conyers, Georgia. Twenty days later, on December 27, 1933, U.S. Border Patrol Inspector Bert G. Walthall, who had survived the gun battle that killed Inspector Melton, was shot and killed by smugglers in El Paso County.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-0BCAA62E
Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrol Inspector Melton gave the United States Department of Labor 6 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdlisusbpfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 7, 1933
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 31
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Military Service

Doyne C. Melton served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrol Inspector Doyne C. Melton 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 97,759 officers honored here.

In DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 53.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At United States Department of Labor - Immigration Service - United States Border Patrol, 20 of 28 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of Labor - Immigration Service - United States Border Patrol
20
of 28 officers
71.4% Felonious
DC — Statewide
754
of 1,419 officers
53.1% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Doyne C. Melton's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Doyne C. Melton Compares

Age at Death
31
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
6
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Doyne C. Melton is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Doyne C. Melton was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Military Service

Doyne C. Melton served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.

Visit Doyne C. Melton’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.