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Deputy Sheriff

Sample J. Toms

Bienville Parish Sheriff's Office — Arcadia, LA

Felonious

End of Watch February 28, 1928

Age 41

Tour of Duty 2 mo

The Vigil Panel 55 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Sample Toms was shot and killed while attempting to arrest several men for bootlegging.

The men opened fire on Deputy Toms, killing him instantly. One of the suspects was also killed in the shootout. Three others escaped but were later apprehended. All three were subsequently convicted of manslaughter.

Deputy Sample had served with the Bienville Parish Sheriff's Office for only two months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-LA-174A68FD
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.
Deputy Sheriff Toms served with the Bienville Parish Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Arcadia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Toms.

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

Agency

Department Bienville Parish Sheriff's Office

Location Arcadia, LA

Platform Identity bpso.bienville.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 28, 1928

Tour of Duty 2 mo

Age 41

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Deputy Sheriff Sample J. Toms 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 LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Bienville Parish Sheriff's Office

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

LA — Statewide

364

of 595 officers

61.2% 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. Sample J. Toms'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 Sample J. Toms Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

0.2

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Sample J. Toms is highlighted in Feb.

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. Sample J. Toms was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518