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Victor A. Sam
Agency patch
Correctional Officer

Victor A. Sam

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation — Sacramento, CA
Felonious
United States flag California flag
End of Watch August 21, 1977
Age 24
The Vigil Panel 260 · Column 4 · Line 14 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Department 41

Incident

Correctional Officer Victor Sam was shot and killed when he was recognized as a correctional officer during an off duty robbery along Multiview Drive, in Riverside County.

Officer Sam was driving to work to begin his shift at the California Rehabilitation Center, Norco, when he stopped to assist who he believed were two stranded motorists. Unbeknownst to Officer Sam, the two subjects had been committing robberies in the area while pretending to have car trouble. As Officer Sam approached, one of the subjects drew a sawed-off shotgun and announced the robbery.

As the subject took his personal items he discovered Officer Sam's correctional officer identification. He told his accomplice that Officer Sam had to die, and after handing the items to the accomplice, he took the officer up an embankment and shot him in the back of the head execution-style.

Officer Sam was reported missing after he failed to arrive at work. His body was discovered by his own father three days later.

Both subjects, 19 and 23, were apprehended a week later in Riverside. Both were convicted of murder and sentenced to life. On May 16, 2013, Governor Jerry Brown blocked the parole of the youngest.

Officer Sam is survived by his wife and son.

Survivors

Officer Sam is survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Correctional Officer Sam served with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Sam.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Type Corrections
Location Sacramento, CA
Platform Identity cdcrcorr.sacramento.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 21, 1977
Age 24
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Shotgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Victor is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1977, 128 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 36th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Victor was 24. 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.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has 42 officers remembered here, Victor among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Correctional Officer Victor A. Sam

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation · End of Watch August 21, 1977

Where the Name Is Cut

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