William Russell Mehlhorn, Jr.

Waterloo Police Department — Waterloo, IA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch January 14, 1956

Age 32

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 91 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 7

Incident

Patrolman William Mehlhorn was shot and killed with his own weapon, a .357-caliber Colt revolver, while attempting to arrest a burglary suspect. The suspect was caught by the desk clerk at the Martin Hotel, located at 514 Sycamore Street, stealing money from the cash register. The man fled, and the clerk followed him. When Patrolman Mehlhorn and another officer arrived, they pursued the suspect on foot. In the alley behind the hotel and off Park Avenue, Patrolman Mehlhorn tackled the suspect, and a struggle ensued. The suspect grabbed his weapon and fired, striking him in his hand and entering his abdomen. The suspect continued to run and fired at additional officers pursuing him. He was apprehended when he was shot by one of the officers. The suspect, who was a convicted felon, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. His wound caused him to be paralyzed until his death six years later. Patrolman Mehlhorn was a United States Navy WWII veteran and a United States Marine Corps Reserve Korean War veteran. He had served with the Waterloo Police Department for two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IA-6AE7C537
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 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.
Patrolman Mehlhorn gave the Waterloo Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Waterloo community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Waterloo Police Department

Location Waterloo, IA

Platform Identity wpd.blackhawk.ia.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 14, 1956

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Sentenced to 25 years

Military Service

William Russell Mehlhorn, Jr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman William Russell Mehlhorn, Jr. 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 IA, 129 of 226 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.9 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Waterloo Police Department, 5 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.

Waterloo Police Department

of 8 officers

62.5% Felonious

IA — Statewide

129

of 226 officers

57.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious