Samuel C. Hayden

Metropolitan Police Department — Washington, DC

Felonious

End of Watch February 27, 1921

Age 43

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

The Vigil Panel 40 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 130

Incident

Officer Samuel Hayden was shot and killed by a shooting suspect who was hiding in a hall closet at 950 Westminster Street, NW. The man had been released from St. Elizabeth's Mental Hospital and had randomly shot two men before entering a house of the second victim. The officers were advised the man was hiding in a third floor bedroom. As the officers prepared to enter the bedroom the man opened fire from a hall closet, striking Officer Hayden in the head. One of the officers returned fire, striking and fatally wounding the suspect. Officer Hayden had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for 11 years.

Survivors

He was survived by two brothers and two sisters and was buried in Lodge, Westmoreland County, Virginia.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-DC-A85BA60E
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.
Officer Hayden gave the Metropolitan Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Hayden.

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

Agency

Department Metropolitan Police Department

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity mpdc.dc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 27, 1921

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Shot and killed

Officer Samuel C. Hayden 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Metropolitan Police Department, 70 of 131 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.4% of this agency's fallen.

Metropolitan Police Department

of 131 officers

53.4% Felonious

DC — Statewide

754

of 1,419 officers

53.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious