Rodney Badger

For Badger's son, who was a youth leader in the LDS Church, see Rodney C. Badger

Rodney Badger (February 4, 1823 – April 29, 1853) was the first Utah law enforcement officer to lose his life during the performance of his sworn duties. He died on April 29, 1853 trying to rescue a family whose wagon had overturned in the Weber River. He successfully rescued four children and their mother and died while trying to rescue two other children.

Badger was born in Waterford, Vermont and was a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints . Badger was a Mormon pioneer and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley with the first company on 24 July 1847. Badger was a special agent for the Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company and was a deputy sheriff of Salt Lake County.

References

• Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, volume 4, "Original Pioneers of Utah"

External links

• The Utah Peace Officer Drowned Officer Memorial: A Hero that Time Forgot, Rodney Badger
• Deputy Rodney Badger, Utah's Fallen