Roll of Honor
Incident
Wildlife Officer James Olterman was killed when the Cessna 185 he was piloting on a fish-stocking mission to Hunts Lake crashed in the side of Hunts Peak near Salida, Colorado.
During the flight, the plane encountered strong winds and was forced to make a crash landing. As Officer Olterman attempted to land he purposely veered to the left to absorb the impact on the pilot's side, saving the life of a fellow employee. The injured passenger had to hike down the mountain from the crash scene.
Officer Olterman served as a senior terrestrial biologist in addition to being the area's wildlife law enforcement officer.
Officer Olterman was a US Army veteran of the Vietnam War veteran had served with the Colorado Department of Natural Resources - Wildlife Division for 30 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CO-C5A58D8D- 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. James is one person.
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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.
Wildlife Officer Olterman gave the Colorado Department of Natural Resources 30 years.
Thank you for your service to the Montrose community. Thank you 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
James Howard Olterman served in the U.S. Army (1968â1970) before joining law enforcement.
Wildlife Officer James Howard Olterman is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.
In CO, 101 of 360 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 28.1% of this state's fallen. That is 28.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Colorado Department of Natural Resources - Parks and Wildlife Division, 3 of 3 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Howard Olterman's cause is highlighted.
How James Howard Olterman Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James Howard Olterman is highlighted in Sep.
Incident Location
Military Service
James Howard Olterman served in the U.S. Army (1968–1970) before joining law enforcement.
Visit James Howard Olterman’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Colorado Department of Natural Resources - Parks and Wildlife Division are honored on badge.nw.
