Roll of Honor
Incident
Fish Warden Victor Dunton drowned when he fell into the fish ladder at Willamette Falls on the Willamette River while looking for illegal fishermen.
He slipped while climbing onto a large rock as he worked on the fish ladder. He struck his head on another rock as he fell into the river and became unconscious. His body became trapped under a submerged rock in a deep hole. Other fish wardens and state troopers were unable to retrieve his body for approximately one hour.
He had served as a season fish warden for the Oregon Game Commission for several years and had previously served with the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children, father, and six siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OR-050809B2- 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.
Fish Warden Dunton served with the Oregon Game Commission.
Thank you for your service to the Salem community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Fish Warden Dunton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Fish Warden Victor Hugo Dunton 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 OR, 66 of 197 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.5% of this state's fallen. That is 2.5 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Oregon Game Commission, 1 of 3 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Victor Hugo Dunton's cause is highlighted.
How Victor Hugo Dunton Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Victor Hugo Dunton is highlighted in May.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Oregon Game Commission are honored on badge.nw.
