Detective Melvin Wilmoth, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Missouri

Detective Melvin Wilmoth

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Missouri

End of Watch Tuesday, February 23, 1971

Melvin Wilmoth

Detective Wilmoth was shot and killed while conducting a drug raid on a house on Waterman Street. He entered the house behind a group of people who were visiting the location and identified himself. An occupant of the home opened fire with a .22 caliber rifle, fatally wounding Detective Wilmoth. Detective Wilmoth was able to return fire and kill the suspect.
Detective Wilmoth was assigned to the Special Operative Deployment Division and had been with the agency for seven years. He was survived by his wife and two sons.

Bio

Age 28
Tour 7 years
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Rifle; .22 caliber
Offender Shot and killed

Most Recent Reflection

View all 10 Reflections

Mel was married to my cousin, JoAnn, and we all loved him very much! His beautiful sons were just babies when Mel died, and JoAnn was never the same. He was a great man, loving husband and father, he had a smile that would light up the room! I miss him to this day and say a prayer for his soul every night since 1971. What a great police officer this city lost that fateful night. Mel was the kind of police officer that gave his heart and soul to the city he watched over. I always make a point to keep his memory alive by telling St. Louisians about Mel - God Bless & RIP!

Robin Sorrentino
Sorrentino/Napoli Family

February 5, 2016