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Incident
Patrolman Wesley Whittenberg was struck and killed by a vehicle while he and his partner investigated an accident on the Stillaguamish River Bridge on U.S. 99, north of Marysville. Another vehicle lost control on the icy surface and slid into the officers. Patrolman Whittenberg was killed and his partner was seriously injured.
Patrolman Whittenberg had served with the agency for 10 years.
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.
Patrolman Whittenberg gave the Washington State Patrol 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Washington. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Whittenberg.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Washington State Patrol has lost 34 officers; 23 of them lost to accidents.
Wesley is one of 111 officers lost to accidents in WA, 32.6% of the 340 remembered there.
Wesley is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Wesley is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1960, 1 officer at Washington State Patrol was lost to accidents, the 4th heaviest of 20 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 2.
In 1960, 1 officer in WA was lost to accidents, the 30th heaviest of 70 years on record. The heaviest was 1968, with 5.
In 1960, 73 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 38th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1960, 89 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 39th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Wesley was 29. Of the 14 lost to accidents at Washington State Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 39; the middle age was 38. Wesley had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6.5 years.
Wesley was 29. Of the 92 lost to accidents in WA whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 46.3; the middle age was 38. Wesley had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Wesley was 29. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Wesley had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Wesley was 29. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Wesley had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 17.4% of these deaths at Washington State Patrol; March holds the most, 26.1%. Thursdays: 13%.
December holds 9.9% of these deaths in WA; November holds the most, 15.3%. Thursdays: 10.8%.
December holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
December holds 8.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 67.6% of all 34 deaths at Washington State Patrol, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 32.6% of all 340 deaths in WA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Washington State Patrol has 34 officers remembered here, Wesley among them.
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Vernon G. Fortin
Sep 30, 1923
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Irving M. Thorsvig
Oct 26, 1926
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Conard C. Tolson
Mar 24, 1929
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Henry Douglas Cossmann
Oct 9, 1929
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William H. Pautzke
May 8, 1930
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Loren G. Ray
Dec 16, 1934
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Allen E. Ludden
Mar 15, 1938
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John H. Gulden
Dec 23, 1942
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Thomas J. Hanlin
May 26, 1945
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Paul H. Johnson
Dec 12, 1949
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Ivan Belka
Aug 18, 1951
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Donald R. Campbell
Dec 21, 1951
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John F. Wright
Jun 28, 1953
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Eugene A. Bolstad
Sep 3, 1957
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Ernest E. Eichhorn
Sep 16, 1958
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Wesley H. Whittenberg
Dec 29, 1960
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Clarence C. Johnson
Sep 8, 1968
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Charles Frank Noble
Feb 5, 1972
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Joseph B. Modlin
Aug 15, 1974
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Thomas L. Hendrickson
Nov 17, 1974
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Glenda Darlene Thomas
May 24, 1985
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James S. Gain
Mar 2, 1987
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Clifford R. Hansell
Jul 22, 1987
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Raymond L. Hawn
Jan 17, 1990
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Steven Lee Frink
Mar 22, 1993
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James E. Saunders
Oct 7, 1999
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Tony Vian Radulescu
Feb 23, 2012
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Sean Michael O'Connell, Jr.
May 31, 2013
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Brent L. Hanger
Aug 6, 2015
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Suzanne Padgett
Sep 4, 2018
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Justin Robert Schaffer
Mar 24, 2020
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Eric Thomas Gunderson
Sep 26, 2021
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Christopher M. Gadd
Mar 2, 2024
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Tara-Marysa Guting
Dec 19, 2025
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 20-E
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