Roll of Honor
Joseph David Kolodski
Incident
Park Ranger Joseph Kolodski was shot and killed after responding to a report of a man with a rifle threatening visitors at the Big Witch Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. He was ambushed and shot as he was stepping out of his patrol car. Ranger Kolodski was the first officer on the scene and had driven past the suspect before radioing to another ranger to stay out of sight until they could work out a plan. He then returned and began to exit his vehicle when he was shot. Another ranger then arrived at the scene and was fired at before the suspect fled into the woods. Ranger Kolodski was flown to a hospital in Tennessee where he was pronounced dead. The suspect in the shooting was arrested approximately four hours later by a tribal game warden on the neighboring Cherokee Indian Reservation. The suspect was sentenced to mandatory life without parole and is being held financially responsible for loss of future income to Ranger Kolodski's family. Ranger Kolodski had served with the National Park Service for 13 years and was an officer safety and defensive tactics instructor for the agency.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-5D760376- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Park Ranger Kolodski gave the United States Department of the Interior 13 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Park Ranger Kolodski.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Park Ranger Joseph David Kolodski is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 officers honored here.
In DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 0.8 percentage points below the national rate of 53.9%.
At United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service, 8 of 40 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 20% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph David Kolodski's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph David Kolodski Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph David Kolodski is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph David Kolodski was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
39 officers from United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
