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Incident
Game Warden Walter Krukow was shot and killed from ambush by a 17-year-old boy who was trout fishing on Boulder Creek north of Whiskeytown. The boy and a friend had gone to the area to trout fish before the season opened. The man dropped the boy off and then drove further up the creek to another spot. Game Warden Krukow gave the boy a warning and told him he was going to find the friend as well. The boy walked back to man's home, retrieved a .30-06 rifle, and then drove back to the creek. He located Game Warden Krukow and shot him from ambush as he walked along the creek. When he rejoined the man he told him that he had shot Game Warden Krukow so he would not arrest him. The man drove the boy to the sheriff's office and turned him in. On June 2, 1947, the boy was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to life. He was to stay at the Lancaster State Reformatory until he was 25, and then to be transferred to an adult prison. He was paroled in July of 1948. On December 12th, 1972, he was booked in Washoe County, Nevada, for an investigation of three counts of arson. Game Warden Krukow had served with the agency for 10 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Game Warden Krukow gave the California Department of Fish and Wildlife 10 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Game Warden Krukow.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
California Department of Fish and Wildlife has lost 17 officers; 9 of them killed feloniously.
Walter is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Walter is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Walter is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1947, 1 officer at California Department of Fish and Wildlife was killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 7 years on record. The heaviest was 1913, with 2.
In 1947, 6 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 63rd heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1947, 86 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 74th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1947, 87 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 78th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Walter was 41. Of the 7 killed feloniously at California Department of Fish and Wildlife whose age is recorded, half were between 28.5 and 42; the middle age was 31. Walter had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 5.5 years.
Walter was 41. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35. Walter had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Walter was 41. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Walter had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Walter was 41. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Walter had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 33.3% of these deaths at California Department of Fish and Wildlife, more than any other month. Sundays: 33.3%.
April holds 9.1% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 15.8%.
April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
April holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 52.9% of all 17 deaths at California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 11.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 8.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.3% of these deaths.
His people
California Department of Fish and Wildlife has 17 officers remembered here, Walter among them.
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Bert Blanchard
Feb 2, 1913
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Ernest Raynaud
Apr 16, 1913
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George Jackson Rodolph Nov 29, 1914
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Raymond B. Heacock Dec 11, 1916
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Richard Squire
Dec 12, 1916
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James S. White Oct 17, 1923
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George Thompson Sep 1, 1928
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Alan G. Curry Apr 30, 1930
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Walter K. Krukow
Apr 20, 1947
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Arthur L. Stager Oct 28, 1948
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Clarence Lester Brown
Apr 3, 1959
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Wilbur S. Talbott
Jan 14, 1962
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Paul Steven Smith
Dec 19, 1970
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Jean King Jones, Jr.
May 14, 1979
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Leon Harvey Nelson Oct 27, 1979
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Robert Allen Flynt May 11, 1984
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Roy John Reed
Jun 7, 1984
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 36-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
16 officers from California Department of Fish and Wildlife are honored on badge.nw.
