Roy Odes Caffey
Agency patch
Patrolman

Roy Odes Caffey

South Carolina Highway Patrol — Blythewood, SC
Felonious Veteran
End of Watch October 8, 1972
Age 56
Tour of Duty 26 yrs
Badge 198
The Vigil Panel 110 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Roy Caffey was shot and killed while on patrol in Orangeburg County, South Carolina. A passing motorist found his body. The case remained unsolved with no suspects until a television broadcast in 1997 turned up an arrest of a woman who claimed she was present when Patrolman Caffey was murdered. The two men she claimed shot him had since died. Patrolman Caffey was a United States Navy veteran and had served with the South Carolina Highway Patrol for 26 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-6BC8F89D
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 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.
Patrolman Caffey gave the South Carolina Highway Patrol 26 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of South Carolina, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Location Blythewood, SC
Platform Identity schp.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 8, 1972
Tour of Duty 26 yrs
Age 56
Badge Number 198
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber
Offender Apprehended in 1997

Military Service

Roy Odes Caffey served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman Roy Odes Caffey is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At South Carolina Highway Patrol, 20 of 52 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 38.5% of this agency's fallen.

South Carolina Highway Patrol
20
of 52 officers
38.5% Felonious
SC — Statewide
271
of 438 officers
61.9% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Roy Odes Caffey's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Roy Odes Caffey Compares

Age at End of Watch
56
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
26
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Apprehended in 1997

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Roy Odes Caffey is highlighted in Oct.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Roy Odes Caffey was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518