Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Samuel Townsend was shot and killed in the line of duty at the intersection of Harrison Avenue and Fifth Street. The shooter was arrested but acquitted.
Survivors
Officer Townsend was survived by his wife, son, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CO-BE71E6B0- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
144 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Officer Townsend gave the Leadville Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Leadville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Samuel Townsend 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 CO, 235 of 360 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.3% of this state's fallen. That is 65.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Leadville Police Department, 5 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Samuel Townsend's cause is highlighted.
How Samuel Townsend Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel Townsend is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Samuel Townsend was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Leadville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
