William Russell Mehlhorn Jr.

Waterloo Police Department — Waterloo, IA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch January 14, 1956

Age 32

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 91 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 7

Incident

Patrolman William Mehlhorn was shot and killed with his own weapon, a .357-caliber Colt revolver, while attempting to arrest a burglary suspect. The suspect was caught by the desk clerk at the Martin Hotel, located at 514 Sycamore Street, stealing money from the cash register. The man fled, and the clerk followed him. When Patrolman Mehlhorn and another officer arrived, they pursued the suspect on foot. In the alley behind the hotel and off Park Avenue, Patrolman Mehlhorn tackled the suspect, and a struggle ensued. The suspect grabbed his weapon and fired, striking him in his hand and entering his abdomen. The suspect continued to run and fired at additional officers pursuing him. He was apprehended when he was shot by one of the officers. The suspect, who was a convicted felon, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. His wound caused him to be paralyzed until his death six years later. Patrolman Mehlhorn was a United States Navy WWII veteran and a United States Marine Corps Reserve Korean War veteran. He had served with the Waterloo Police Department for two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IA-6AE7C537
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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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.
Patrolman Mehlhorn gave the Waterloo Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Waterloo 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

Department Waterloo Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Waterloo, Black Hawk County, IA

Platform Identity wpd.blackhawk.ia.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 14, 1956

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Military Service

William Russell Mehlhorn Jr. served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman William Russell Mehlhorn Jr. 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 IA, 129 of 226 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this state's fallen. That is 57.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Waterloo Police Department, 5 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.

Waterloo Police Department

of 8 officers

62.5% Felonious

IA — Statewide

129

of 226 officers

57.1% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious