Rudolf Emil Mellenthin

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

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch August 23, 1918

Age 34

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

The Vigil Panel 34 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 8

Incident

Forest Ranger Rudolf Mellenthin was shot and killed when he and two San Juan County, Utah, deputies tried to arrest an Army deserter at Pine Bluff in the La Sal National Forest. When the officers located the man at a campsite Ranger Mellenthin advised him he was under arrest. The man appeared to cooperate but suddenly raised his rifle and shot Ranger Mellenthin twice at a range of only five feet. A friend of the suspect also opened fire, striking Ranger Mellenthin once in the chest. Although mortally wounded, Ranger Mellenthin was able to return fire and wounded the suspect. The two deputies went for backup and a large posse was sent to the site. The two men were apprehended and charged with murder in Grand County after receiving a change of venue. The original suspect was sentenced to life but paroled after only six years. The second suspect was convicted but later had his conviction overturned. Ranger Mellenthin had served with the United States Forest Service for nine years and had previously served with the German army.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and children and is buried in Grand Valley Cemetery, Moab, Utah.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FED-E434C2BD
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 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.
Forest Ranger Mellenthin gave the United States Department of Agriculture 9 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

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

Type Federal Agency

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity usdafsleifed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 23, 1918

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

Military Service

Rudolf Emil Mellenthin served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Forest Ranger Rudolf Emil Mellenthin is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 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 53.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

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

of 97,756 officers

0% Felonious