Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Richard Wentlandt died on the evening of March 15th, 1997, from a Hepatitis C infection that he contracted during blood transfusions after being shot in the line of duty on May 29, 1981. While on patrol, encountered a rape in progress in a remote area near NW 156th Street and 42nd Avenue. As he exited his patrol car to approach the vehicle, the occupant fired on him, striking him six times. He was able to return fire, wounding the suspect. The subject was in the process of raping a woman whom he had just abducted. Officer Wentlandt is credited with saving her life. Before his death, Officer Wentlandt's health deteriorated to the point where he was completely bedridden. In February 2012 Officer Wentlandt's killer was denied parole. Officer Wentlandt had served with the Metro-Dade Police Department for 10 years.
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BO-US-FL-F0AEFF1E- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Wentlandt gave the Metro-Dade Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Miami community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Wentlandt.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Richard P. Wentlandt is one of 1 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In FL, 81 of 1,008 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 8% of this state's fallen. That is 8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Metro-Dade Police Department, 1 of 25 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard P. Wentlandt's cause is highlighted.
How Richard P. Wentlandt Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Richard P. Wentlandt is highlighted in Mar.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
24 officers from Metro-Dade Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
