State patrol plans honor for first trooper it lost

Twenty-six hours after he was shot in the line of duty, Washington State Patrol Trooper John H. Gulden died.

Nearly 70 years after his death, Trooper Gulden is being honored Monday with a monument at the state patrol’s Goldendale Detachment office, 1264 Scale House Road.

Gulden was the first state patrol trooper killed in the line of duty. A stone monument with a plaque will be unveiled during the 3 p.m. ceremony.

Trooper Gulden was a graduate of the state patrol’s third cadet class.

In December 1942, Gulden stopped a pickup traveling without headlights outside of Goldendale. The truck was occupied by two armed teenagers, suspects in armed robbery and several car thefts, according to the state patrol.

Gulden, 43, was shot during the traffic stop.

Both teens were taken into custody after a 20-hour manhunt and convicted on murder charges.

Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste is schedule to speak at the dedication. The state patrol honor guard will perform.

Schuyler Ross, a Southwest Washington liaison to Gov. Chris Gregoire; Klickitat County Sheriff Rick McComas; and law enforcement officials from across the state have been invited to attend.

The monument is described as a large stone set in a concrete base and surrounded by landscaping that features small trees and shrubs.

It includes a plaque with a photo of Gulden and a poem that was shared during the trooper’s funeral. The state patrol badge was engraved onto the plaque as well, said Trooper Steve Schatzel.

Bob Albrecht: 360-735-4522 or bob.albrecht@columbian.com.