John M. Garlington

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries — Baton Rouge, LA

Accident

End of Watch February 10, 2000

Age 53

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

The Vigil Panel 147 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 10

Incident

Captain John Garlington drowned while investigating a report of illegal gill net fishing near his home on the Mill Creek Reservoir in Bienville Parish.

He responded to the report at approximately 3:00 am, approximately 100 yards from his home. Other officers became concerned after not hearing back from him for several hours. They began a search of the area and located his body four days later, approximately 150 yards from his home.

Captain Garlington had served with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for 14 years.

Before beginning his career in law enforcement, Captain Garlington played professional football for the Cleveland Browns.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-LA-B9316B47
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Captain Garlington gave the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Baton Rouge community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Garlington.

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

Agency

Department Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Location Baton Rouge, LA

Platform Identity ldwfcons.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 10, 2000

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

Age 53

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Captain John M. Garlington is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In LA, 180 of 595 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30.3% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.

At Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, 7 of 11 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 63.6% of this agency's fallen.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

of 11 officers

63.6% Accident

LA — Statewide

180

of 595 officers

30.3% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident