Prev
Incident
Patrolman Ivan Belka was killed when his patrol car was struck by a car that made a left turn on Division Street in front of him as he was returning to the Spokane Station at 8 am. Patrolman Belka was transported to the Deaconess Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries at 2:45 pm. The 25-year-old driver was charged with negligent homicide and reckless driving. A jury acquitted him. Patrolman Belka had served with the Washington State Patrol for over nine years and previously served with the Port Angeles Police Department and Pierce County Sheriff's Office.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, child, four brothers, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtqhteacbkbvj4d52n8nv- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Ivan. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Belka gave the Washington State Patrol 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Washington. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Belka.
— 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.
Ivan is one of 111 officers lost to accidents in WA, 32.6% of the 340 remembered there.
Ivan is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Ivan is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1951, 2 officers at Washington State Patrol were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1951, 2 officers in WA were lost to accidents, the 9th heaviest of 70 years on record. The heaviest was 1968, with 5.
In 1951, 70 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 48th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1951, 76 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 64th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Ivan was 38. 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. Ivan had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6.5 years.
Ivan was 38. Of the 92 lost to accidents in WA whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 46.3; the middle age was 38. Ivan had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Ivan was 38. 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. Ivan had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Ivan was 38. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Ivan had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 8.7% of these deaths at Washington State Patrol; March holds the most, 26.1%. Saturdays: 13%.
August holds 5.4% of these deaths in WA; November holds the most, 15.3%. Saturdays: 15.3%.
August holds 9.5% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Saturdays: 14.9%.
August holds 9.3% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Saturdays: 14.7%.
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 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Washington State Patrol has 34 officers remembered here, Ivan among them.
-
Vernon G. Fortin
Sep 30, 1923
-
Irving M. Thorsvig
Oct 26, 1926
-
Conard C. Tolson
Mar 24, 1929
-
Henry Douglas Cossmann
Oct 9, 1929
-
William H. Pautzke
May 8, 1930
-
Loren G. Ray
Dec 16, 1934
-
Allen E. Ludden
Mar 15, 1938
-
John H. Gulden
Dec 23, 1942
-
Thomas J. Hanlin
May 26, 1945
-
Paul H. Johnson
Dec 12, 1949
-
Ivan Belka
Aug 18, 1951
-
Donald R. Campbell
Dec 21, 1951
-
John F. Wright
Jun 28, 1953
-
Eugene A. Bolstad
Sep 3, 1957
-
Ernest E. Eichhorn
Sep 16, 1958
-
Wesley H. Whittenberg
Dec 29, 1960
-
Clarence C. Johnson
Sep 8, 1968
-
Charles Frank Noble
Feb 5, 1972
-
Joseph B. Modlin
Aug 15, 1974
-
Thomas L. Hendrickson
Nov 17, 1974
-
Glenda Darlene Thomas
May 24, 1985
-
James S. Gain
Mar 2, 1987
-
Clifford R. Hansell
Jul 22, 1987
-
Raymond L. Hawn
Jan 17, 1990
-
Steven Lee Frink
Mar 22, 1993
-
James E. Saunders
Oct 7, 1999
-
Tony Vian Radulescu
Feb 23, 2012
-
Sean Michael O'Connell, Jr.
May 31, 2013
-
Brent L. Hanger
Aug 6, 2015
-
Suzanne Padgett
Sep 4, 2018
-
Justin Robert Schaffer
Mar 24, 2020
-
Eric Thomas Gunderson
Sep 26, 2021
-
Christopher M. Gadd
Mar 2, 2024
-
Tara-Marysa Guting
Dec 19, 2025
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 24-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
33 officers from Washington State Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
