Deputy Mallon dies at 40

Entiat native served nearly nine years

Drew Lawson, The Record-Times | Last updated Sep 08, 2023 9:36am0

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DAVENPORT - A longtime Lincoln County Sheriff's Office deputy died at his Creston home last weekend. 40-year-old Luke Mallon passed away Saturday, Sept. 2.

Mallon had been with the Sheriff's Office since Nov. 2014, and previously spent four years as a Law Enforcement Ranger at Yellowstone National Park.

Officials ruled Mallon's death was self-inflicted.

"We are all heartbroken at the passing of Luke Mallon. Luke was a humble servant who loved people, friends, family and serving as a law enforcement officer," Sheriff Gabe Gants said in a statement. "He served our county with honor and integrity and was the type of person who would gladly give anyone the shirt off his back."

Gants was not the only person to say, verbatim, that Mallon would give another person the shirt off his back. Mallon's good friend Sean Davis, who was Mallon's best man at the deputy's 2018 wedding to Rachelle Mallon, offered like sentiments.

"It's hard to describe in a few words. He was jovial. He had a love for life. He was a selfless servant," Davis said. "Any job he did, he served it with great integrity, moral regard and honor. He always had a big smile and infectious laugh."

Mallon and Davis met in 2010 at Parks Law Enforcement Academy in Mount Vernon. Davis said the two kept in touch over the years with future law enforcement officers they met at the Academy that are now spread around the country.

"He always called it 'Big Sky Lincoln County,'" Davis said. "He loved to serve and be a part of that community."

He added that law enforcement friends would tease Mallon for his sometimes-long-winded love of storytelling.

"He always had a story," he said. "We would say, 'get your popcorn out. Luke's got a story.'"

Davis said Mallon was also "big on family." He has a wife, Rachelle, and two small daughters, 3-year-old Renlee and 5-month-old Rayla.

"It's obviously a tragedy that he's no longer with us. He served this county and did a great job," Lincoln County Commissioner Rob Coffman said. "He was well-liked by everybody in the county. It's a sad deal."

Mallon seemed to lend a listening ear to anyone who needed one, as evidenced in a Facebook comment shared by Catherine Herrman of Davenport on a post sharing news of Mallon's death, published with permission in this article.

"This officer was the nicest officer I have ever met. He transported me from Lincoln County Jail to Spokane County Jail on July 12 at 4:20 in the morning. He wanted to hear my story about me becoming a heroin addict just two weeks after my baby brother died," Herrman said. "He gave me some really good advice and really helped me more than he will ever know when it came to owning what got me to where I was. I remember I told him I'd give him a hug if I was allowed to."

His job as a patrol deputy that loved the outdoors was one he was passionate about, Lincoln County Commissioner and former 911 coordinator Jo Gilchrist said.

"He really had a heart for public safety," Gilchrist said. "He loved being a deputy."

A public memorial service is currently being planned for 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 22 at Creston School.

Mallon was escorted by law enforcement from Strate Funeral Home in Davenport to Ball and Dodd in Spokane Wednesday, Sept. 6. Most deputies escorted him to the Spokane County line, while a select few continued to the funeral and cremation home.

A law enforcement patrol car has been holding a 24-hour watch outside Strate Funeral Home since Mallon was brought there Saturday. Undersheriff Jesse Allen said Sheriff's Office patrol deputies, corrections deputies, Fish and Wildlife game wardens, National Park rangers and Fire/EMS crews from Wilbur, Creston and Lincoln have joined the watch in recent days.

A GoFundMe was set up by Davis to raise financial support for Rachelle, Renlee and Rayla Mallon.

As of press time, the fundraiser had raised over $15,000 in two days.

"I feel like I speak for many citizens when I say: Luke, we are thankful to have had you in our lives. We love you my friend and may God be with you and your family," Gants said.