Wilson Conley Elms

Idaho Department of Fish and Game — Boise, ID

Felonious

End of Watch January 5, 1981

Age 34

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 123 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Game Warden Conley Elms and Game Warden William Pogue were shot and killed while attempting to arrest a poacher at a campsite along the South Fork in Owyhee County. The suspect was captured 15 months later. He was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 30 years. Despite escaping prison and being on the run for a year, he was released from prison in February 2005. Warden Elms had served with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and brother, who also served as an Idaho Department of Fish and Game conservation officer.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-ID-DB78C059
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.
Game Warden Elms gave the Idaho Department of Fish and Game 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Boise community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Game Warden Elms.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Idaho Department of Fish and Game

Location Boise, ID

Platform Identity idahcons.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 5, 1981

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .357 caliber

Offender Released in February 2005

Game Warden Wilson Conley Elms 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 ID, 44 of 71 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62% of this state's fallen. That is 7.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 2 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.

Idaho Department of Fish and Game

of 5 officers

40% Felonious

ID — Statewide

of 71 officers

62% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious