Samuel Smyth Young
Agency patch
Officer

Samuel Smyth Young

Portland Police Bureau — Portland, OR
Felonious
End of Watch September 23, 1908
Age 62
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
The Vigil Panel 22 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Samuel Young was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man who was robbing a local saloon at the corner of SE 19th Avenue and SE Umatilla Avenue.

He was making his rounds when he entered the saloon to speak with the owner. While inside, a masked man entered and announced a robbery. Officer Young attempted to talk the man into going outside but the man opened fire, fatally wounding him in the chest.

His killer was never apprehended.

Officer Young had served with the Portland Police Bureau for 25 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OR-4B3CB2A9
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

25 years. You could have gone home.
Officer Young gave the Portland Police Bureau 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Portland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Young.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Portland, OR
Platform Identity ppb.multnomah.or.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 23, 1908
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
Age 62
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

Officer Samuel Smyth Young 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 OR, 115 of 197 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.4% of this state's fallen. That is 58.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Portland Police Bureau, 12 of 31 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 38.7% of this agency's fallen.

Portland Police Bureau
12
of 31 officers
38.7% Felonious
OR — Statewide
115
of 197 officers
58.4% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Samuel Smyth Young's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Samuel Smyth Young Compares

Age at Death
62
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
25
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel Smyth Young is highlighted in Sep.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Samuel Smyth Young was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location