Roll of Honor
Gerald F. Welling
Incident
Conservation Officer Gerald Welling was killed when he was intentionally struck by bear poachers while patrolling a local dump near Iron Mountain. He was attempting to stop the two suspected poachers who were spotlighting bears at night. The poachers were in a pickup truck with a hydraulic plow on the front. As Officer Welling approached them on foot, signaling them to stop, the truck suddenly accelerated, striking him and dragging him approximately 100 feet. The man driving the vehicle was charged with first-degree murder but convicted of negligent homicide. He served only 9-1/2 months in prison before being released. Officer Welling was a WWII veteran and had served with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for 24 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two sons, and three daughters and is buried in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Coe, Isabella County, Michigan.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-1D63EB8B- 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 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.
Conservation Officer Welling gave the Michigan Department of Natural Resources 24 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lansing community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Gerald F. Welling served in the Army (1942â1945) before joining law enforcement.
Conservation Officer Gerald F. Welling is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
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. Gerald F. Welling's cause is highlighted.
How Gerald F. Welling Compares
Offender Outcome
Convicted of negligent homicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gerald F. Welling is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gerald F. Welling was killed by automobile.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Michigan Department of Natural Resources are honored on badge.nw.
