Harmon O. Schwoob

United States Department of Agriculture - Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations — Washington, DC

Felonious

End of Watch September 20, 1941

Age 36

The Vigil Panel 78 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 8

Incident

Ranger Harmon Schwoob was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a poacher in Angeles National Forest, California. Ranger Schwoob, who was at home and off duty, had responded to a request from another ranger who was in pursuit of the poacher. They pursued the suspect into the City of Azusa, California, where the suspect finally stopped at the dead-end of East 11th Street. As Ranger Schwoob approached the suspect with revolver drawn the man opened fire with a .30-.30 lever action rifle, striking him. The man fled after being wounded by two bullets in the left arm and shoulder. The suspect was arrested a couple days later at the home of his sister. The suspect claimed that he thought he was being robbed by the two uniformed officers. On December 12, 1941, he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to one to 10 years.

Survivors

Ranger Schwoob was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Ranger Schwoob served with the United States Department of Agriculture.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Ranger Schwoob.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of Agriculture - Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity usdafsleifed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 20, 1941

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; .30-.30

Offender Sentenced to 10 years

Ranger Harmon O. Schwoob 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 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 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At United States Department of Agriculture - Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations, 6 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of Agriculture - Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations

of 9 officers

66.7% Felonious

DC — Statewide

754

of 1,419 officers

53.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious