Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Richard Samuels suffered a fatal attack during a foot pursuit of an escapee. Detective Samuels was in the courthouse waiting to testify in a trial when a prisoner broke free of other deputies and fled the courthouse. Detective Samuels, who observed the incident, chased the prisoner towards a neighboring elementary school but suffered a fatal heart attack during the pursuit. Other deputies apprehended the suspect inside the school. Detective Samuels had served with the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office for 17 years.
Survivors
Survivors include his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-12EB4822- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Samuels gave the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Spotsylvania community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Samuels.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Richard Lee Samuels is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In VA, 25 of 654 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 3.8% of this state's fallen.
At Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 3 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard Lee Samuels's cause is highlighted.
How Richard Lee Samuels Compares
Offender Outcome
Apprehended
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Lee Samuels is highlighted in Sep.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
