Richard P. Wentlandt

Metro-Dade Police Department — Miami, FL

Illness

End of Watch March 15, 1997

Age 48

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Badge 2607

The Vigil Panel 143 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 24

Incident

Police Officer Richard Wentlandt died on the evening of March 15th, 1997, from a Hepatitis C infection that he contracted during blood transfusions after being shot in the line of duty on May 29, 1981. While on patrol, encountered a rape in progress in a remote area near NW 156th Street and 42nd Avenue. As he exited his patrol car to approach the vehicle, the occupant fired on him, striking him six times. He was able to return fire, wounding the suspect. The subject was in the process of raping a woman whom he had just abducted. Officer Wentlandt is credited with saving her life. Before his death, Officer Wentlandt's health deteriorated to the point where he was completely bedridden. In February 2012 Officer Wentlandt's killer was denied parole. Officer Wentlandt had served with the Metro-Dade Police Department for 10 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-F0AEFF1E
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.
Police Officer Wentlandt gave the Metro-Dade Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Miami community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Wentlandt.

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

Agency

Department Metro-Dade Police Department

Location Miami, FL

Platform Identity metrpd.miamidade.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 15, 1997

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 48

Badge Number 2607

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness

Weapon Handgun; .357 caliber

Offender Shot by Officer Wentlandt

Police Officer Richard P. Wentlandt is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In FL, 81 of 1,008 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 8% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.

At Metro-Dade Police Department, 1 of 25 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 4% of this agency's fallen.

Metro-Dade Police Department

of 25 officers

4% Illness

FL — Statewide

of 1,008 officers

8% Illness

Nationwide

2,974

of 32,508 officers

9.1% Illness