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Incident
Trooper Charles Sanders was shot and killed after responding to a call that Deputy Sheriff David Hefner and his partner from the Lane County Sheriff's Department had been wounded while investigating a domestic violence call at 387 Park Avenue in Eugene. When Trooper Sanders arrived, he and other officers engaged the suspect in a two-hour gun battle. One year earlier, Deputy Hefner had responded to a complaint at the same address and had taken a weapon from the same suspect who had at that time threatened to kill Deputy Hefner. When Deputy Hefner responded on February 22, 1957 he was shot first, as he approached the house; he was struck in the neck with a 32-20 Winchester rifle and was paralyzed. He would die of his wound four months and 21 days after being wounded. Trooper Sanders was shot in the chest with the same 32-20 rifle. The fatal bullet was not recovered. The suspect attempted to commit suicide after being forced out of his residence but was captured instead. The suspect was indicted for first-degree murder in connection with Trooper Sanders' death but was convicted of second-degree murder on April 25, 1957. He entered a guilty plea thereafter to assault with a deadly weapon in the shooting of Deputy Hefner. He was sentenced to life for Trooper Sander's murder and 25 years for the assault on Deputy Hefner. He was paroled after nine years. Trooper Sanders was a United States World War II veteran and had served with the Oregon State Police for nine years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Trooper Sanders gave the Oregon State Police 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oregon, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Charles Curry Sanders served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Oregon State Police has lost 31 officers; 16 of them killed feloniously.
Charles is one of 115 officers killed feloniously in OR, 58.4% of the 197 remembered there.
Charles is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Charles is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1957, 1 officer at Oregon State Police was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 15 years on record. The heaviest was 1938, with 2.
In 1957, 2 officers in OR were killed feloniously, the 8th heaviest of 75 years on record. The heaviest was 1931, with 5.
In 1957, 67 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 107th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1957, 69 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 109th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Charles was 37. Of the 11 killed feloniously at Oregon State Police whose age is recorded, half were between 31.5 and 50; the middle age was 37. Charles had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 7.5 years.
Charles was 37. Of the 97 killed feloniously in OR whose age is recorded, half were between 36 and 51; the middle age was 43. Charles had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6.5 years.
Charles was 37. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Charles had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Charles was 37. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Charles had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
February holds 6.3% of these deaths at Oregon State Police; April holds the most, 18.8%. Fridays: 18.8%.
February holds 6.1% of these deaths in OR; November holds the most, 12.2%. Fridays: 19.1%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 51.6% of all 31 deaths at Oregon State Police, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 12.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 58.4% of all 197 deaths in OR, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 9.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.3% of these deaths.
His people
Oregon State Police has 31 officers remembered here, Charles among them.
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Amos L. Helms
Dec 30, 1931
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Burrell Milo Baucom
Jul 1, 1933
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Ira A. Warren
Apr 7, 1938
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Elmer Ray Pyle
Aug 17, 1938
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Willard A. Tubbs
Jun 21, 1939
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George R. Cameron
Jul 5, 1944
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Theodore R. Chambers
Apr 29, 1945
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Delmond Edward Rondeau
Apr 25, 1947
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LeRoy H. Spickerman
Jan 17, 1948
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Earl A. Burtch
Sep 22, 1948
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William Thomas Levinson
Sep 7, 1950
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Dale Benjamin Courtney
Oct 1, 1950
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Philip B. Lowd
Jun 24, 1952
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Richard Francis O'Connor
May 8, 1956
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Charles Curry Sanders
Feb 22, 1957
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Frederick Christian Kielhorn
Sep 9, 1961
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Ralph D. Bates
Nov 8, 1962
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William M. Hall
May 11, 1967
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Donald Timothy Welp
Nov 15, 1967
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Dan Austin Nelson
Jul 28, 1972
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Harold Roy Berg
May 10, 1975
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Holly Vernon Holcomb
Nov 25, 1975
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James D. Shepherd
May 22, 1980
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Donald E. Smith
Jul 11, 1983
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Bret Robert Clodfelter
Sep 30, 1992
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Scott Alan Lyons
Sep 2, 1997
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James Dallas Rector
Sep 2, 1997
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Richard James Schuening
Oct 2, 1997
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Maria Mignano
Sep 4, 2001
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William Robert Hakim
Dec 12, 2008
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John Richard Burright
May 4, 2021
Where
Military Service
Charles Curry Sanders served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Charles Curry Sanders’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 14-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
30 officers from Oregon State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
