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Joseph David Kolodski
Agency patch
Park Ranger

Joseph David Kolodski

United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service — Washington, DC
Felonious
United States flag District of Columbia flag
End of Watch June 21, 1998
Age 36
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Badge 874
The Vigil Panel 145 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 39

Incident

Park Ranger Joseph Kolodski was shot and killed after responding to a report of a man with a rifle threatening visitors at the Big Witch Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. He was ambushed and shot as he was stepping out of his patrol car. Ranger Kolodski was the first officer on the scene and had driven past the suspect before radioing to another ranger to stay out of sight until they could work out a plan. He then returned and began to exit his vehicle when he was shot. Another ranger then arrived at the scene and was fired at before the suspect fled into the woods. Ranger Kolodski was flown to a hospital in Tennessee where he was pronounced dead. The suspect in the shooting was arrested approximately four hours later by a tribal game warden on the neighboring Cherokee Indian Reservation. The suspect was sentenced to mandatory life without parole and is being held financially responsible for loss of future income to Ranger Kolodski's family. Ranger Kolodski had served with the National Park Service for 13 years and was an officer safety and defensive tactics instructor for the agency.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw
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.
Park Ranger Kolodski gave the United States Department of the Interior 13 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Park Ranger Kolodski.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service
Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdinpsfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 21, 1998
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Age 36
Badge Number 874
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Joseph is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1998, 78 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 89th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Joseph was 36. 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. Joseph had served 13 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

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.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service has 40 officers remembered here, Joseph among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Park Ranger Joseph David Kolodski

United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service · End of Watch June 21, 1998

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 49-W

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