Roll of Honor
Ronald Henry Terwilliger
Incident
Special Deputy Ronald Terwilliger, Corporal Virgle Knight, and Sergeant Gerald Chirrick were killed in a helicopter crash while conducting a marijuana eradication operation. The helicopter crashed after striking power lines as it took off from the parking area of the Canton Creek Campground in the Umppqua National Forest. Special Deputy Terwilliger had served with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office for one year. He is survived by his wife, son, and three daughters. He was a United States Army veteran and recipient of the Purple Heart.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, and three daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OR-5FD334A0- 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.
Special Deputy Sheriff Terwilliger gave the Douglas County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Roseburg 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Ronald Henry Terwilliger served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Special Deputy Sheriff Ronald Henry Terwilliger 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 Douglas County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 5 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ronald Henry Terwilliger's cause is highlighted.
How Ronald Henry Terwilliger Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Ronald Henry Terwilliger is highlighted in Jul.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Douglas County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
