Roll of Honor
Incident
Coast Guardsman Jonathan Scotchmer died after falling into the hold of a ship while making a routine investigation of a foreign cargo vessel. Guardsman Scotchmer was part of a boarding party that was making a routine inspection of a Belize freighter. As part of its responsibilities, the Coast Guard normally stops foreign ships to check for safety violations, smuggling, and proper documents. Guardsman Scotchmer and another Coast Guardsman were in the hold as part of their inspection when Scotchmer fell about 15 to 20 feet through a hole, landing on the metal deck below. While the guardsmen with the boarding party provided emergency medical care and he was evacuated by air to the mainland, he died of massive head injuries. Guardsman Scotchmer had served with the United States Coast Guard for three and a half years and was stationed at Miami Beach at the time of the accident.
Survivors
He is survived by his parents and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-B6578111- 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.
Coast Guardsman Scotchmer gave the United States Coast Guard 3 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Jonathan D. Scotchmer served in the Coast Guard (1991â1995) before joining law enforcement.
Coast Guardsman Jonathan D. Scotchmer is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In DC, 454 of 1,419 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At United States Coast Guard, 20 of 24 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jonathan D. Scotchmer's cause is highlighted.
How Jonathan D. Scotchmer Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Jonathan D. Scotchmer is highlighted in Jan.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
23 officers from United States Coast Guard are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
