Kenneth Carmel Patrick

United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service — Washington, DC

Felonious

End of Watch August 5, 1973

Age 40

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 112 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 39

Incident

Park Ranger Kenneth Patrick was shot and killed while making a traffic stop at Point Reyes National Seashore, California. The vehicle that he stopped contained several members of a militant group, known as the Black Panthers. One of the men opened fire on Ranger Patrick with a 9mm handgun as he approached the car, wounding him. Ranger Patrick was wearing a winter coat and was unable to draw his weapon. The suspects began to drive away but returned, and the shooter shot the wounded Ranger Patrick in the head, killing him. The suspect then stole Ranger Patrick's service revolver, and the group fled. The suspects were apprehended and convicted of Ranger Patrick's murder. The accomplices were paroled in 2002. Ranger Patrick had previously served with the Arizona Department of Public Safety before joining the National Park Service. He was survived by his wife and four children. The Black Panther Party was a black nationalist and Marxist revolutionary political and militant organization active in the United States between 1966 and 1982. Members and former members of the group were responsible for the murders of over 20 law enforcement officers and the wounding of dozens more across the nation. Please click here to visit all the law enforcement officers who have died as a result of the Black Panther Party's violent activism.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FED-E330C2EB
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.
Park Ranger Patrick gave the United States Department of the Interior 10 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Park Ranger Patrick.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity usdinpsfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 5, 1973

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 40

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; 9 mm

Offender Convicted

Park Ranger Kenneth Carmel Patrick 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 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.

United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service

of 40 officers

20% Felonious

DC — Statewide

754

of 1,419 officers

53.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious