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Robert Arthur VanAlyne Jr.
Incident
Deputy VanAlyne drowned after being swept into flood waters in Cheyenne, Wyoming, while attempting to rescue four people stranded on the roof of a car. A six-year-old girl also was swept away and drowned. Deputy VanAlyne was a Vietnam War veteran and was posthumously awarded received the Carnegie Heroism Award, the Civil Air Patrol Heroism Award, the Laramie County Sheriff's Department's Medal of Valor, and the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award.
Survivors
He was survived by his son, parents, and three siblings.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- 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.
Deputy Sheriff VanAlyne served with the Laramie County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Cheyenne community, 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
Robert Arthur VanAlyne Jr. served in the the United States military (1970â1973) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
Laramie County Sheriff's Department has lost 5 officers; 2 of them lost to accidents.
Robert is one of 17 officers lost to accidents in WY, 27% of the 63 remembered there.
Robert is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Robert is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1985, 1 officer in WY was lost to accidents, the 3rd heaviest of 15 years on record. The heaviest was 1927, with 2.
In 1985, 67 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 59th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1985, 75 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 66th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Robert was 33. Of the 15 lost to accidents in WY whose age is recorded, half were between 28.5 and 51; the middle age was 42.
Robert was 33. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36.
Robert was 33. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36.
When
August holds 29.4% of these deaths in WY, more than any other month. Thursdays: 17.6%.
August holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Thursdays: 14%.
August holds 9.3% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 40% of all 5 deaths at Laramie County Sheriff's Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 27% of all 63 deaths in WY, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Laramie County Sheriff's Department has 5 officers remembered here, Robert among them.
Military Service
Robert Arthur VanAlyne Jr. served in the United States military (1970–1973) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Robert Arthur VanAlyne Jr.’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Laramie County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
