Don Simpson

Wyoming Department of Game and Fish — Cheyenne, WY

Felonious

End of Watch October 31, 1945

Age 39

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

The Vigil Panel 82 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Agent Don Simpson and Agent Bill Lakanen were shot to death in the Sierra Madre mountain range near Rawlings, Wyoming while investigating reports of illegal beaver hunting. The suspect wanted in connection with their murder died in a cabin fire before being taken into custody. Agent Simpson had served with the Wyoming Department of Game and Fish for eight years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WY-98433045
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.
Agent Simpson gave the Wyoming Department of Game and Fish 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cheyenne community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Agent Simpson.

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

Agency

Department Wyoming Department of Game and Fish

Location Cheyenne, WY

Platform Identity wdgffed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 31, 1945

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Not available

Offender Died in a fire

Agent Don Simpson 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 WY, 41 of 63 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.1% of this state's fallen. That is 10.9 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Wyoming Department of Game and Fish, 3 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Wyoming Department of Game and Fish

of 6 officers

50% Felonious

WY — Statewide

of 63 officers

65.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious