Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman George Van Wagenen succumbed to injuries received when he fell onto a large circular saw during a stolen vehicle investigation. The saw severed his right side causing massive internal injuries. He succumbed to those injuries later in the day. Patrolman Van Wagenen was the first full-time patrol officer hired for the Utah Highway Patrol. He had served with the Utah Highway Patrol for three years and had been in law enforcement for six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-UT-14BA2D74- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Van Wagenen gave the Utah Highway Patrol 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Utah. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Van Wagenen.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman George Edwin Van Wagenen is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In UT, 49 of 138 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 35.5% of this state's fallen. That is 4.5 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Utah Highway Patrol, 9 of 16 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 56.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George Edwin Van Wagenen's cause is highlighted.
How George Edwin Van Wagenen Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. George Edwin Van Wagenen is highlighted in May.
Others Who Wore This Badge
15 officers from Utah Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw.
