Roll of Honor
Lewis Washington Roper
Incident
Location: Virginia Incident Date: Friday, December 29, 1916 Weapon: Blunt object Offender: Sentenced to 3 months
Guard Lewis Roper succumbed to injuries sustained four months earlier during an escape attempt from the Occoquan Workhouse in Fairfax County, Virginia.
He was overseeing a work crew near the Workhouse's administrative building when one of the prisoners approached him from behind and struck him on the back of the head with a pick axe handle, fracturing his skull. Guard Roper then fell face first into a camp fire.
A second prisoner pulled him out of the fire and then grabbed Guard Roper's service revolver. That prisoner and five others then fled on foot through the woods and swampy area near the prison. Four of the six escapees were captured several hours later and returned to the Workhouse.
Guard Roper was transported to George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC, where he remained for several months. He was discharged in the end of March 1917 and sent to Florida to recuperate. Within days of arriving in Jacksonville, Florida, he experienced severe complications of his injuries and died on April 3rd, 1917.
Two prisoners were charged with Guard Roper's murder. The prisoner who struck him was convicted of felonious assault and received a $300 fine and three month prison sentence. The prisoner who stole his revolver was acquitted.
Guard Roper had served in law enforcement for approximately 17 years. He had previously served with the Sylvester, Georgia, Police Department and as a guard at the federal penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-DC-FA25841F- Stewardship
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Guard Roper gave the District of Columbia Department of Corrections 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of the District of Columbia. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Roper.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Guard Lewis Washington Roper is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In DC, 754 of 1,418 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.2% of this state's fallen. That is 53.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At District of Columbia Department of Corrections, 7 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Lewis Washington Roper's cause is highlighted.
How Lewis Washington Roper Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lewis Washington Roper is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Lewis Washington Roper was killed by blunt object.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from District of Columbia Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.
