Roll of Honor
Steven Romell Floyd, Sr.
Incident
Lieutenant Steven Floyd was killed during a 20-hour hostage situation at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna, Delaware.
A large group of inmates took Lieutenant Floyd and three other prison employees hostage during a riot in Building C. A tactical response team made entry into the prison approximately 20 hours later and located Lieutenant Floyd's body. The other prison employees were rescued.
Approximately 120 inmates housed in Building C at the time remained in custody.
On November 20th, 2018, the riot's leader was convicted of first-degree felony murder.
Lieutenant Floyd, a U.S. Army veteran, had served with the Delaware Department of Correction for 16 years. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on Friday, February 3rd, 2017.
Eight years ago today but no passage of time will ever erase your service, your memory and your heroism from that day.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo Delaware State Police (Retired) February 2nd, 2025
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-DE-6216B7D2- Stewardship
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- 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.
Lieutenant Floyd gave the Delaware Department of Correction 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Dover community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Steven Romell Floyd, Sr. served in the Army (1988â1994) before joining law enforcement.
Lieutenant Steven Romell Floyd, Sr. 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 DE, 25 of 51 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 49% of this state's fallen. That is 5.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Steven Romell Floyd, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Steven Romell Floyd, Sr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Convicted of murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Steven Romell Floyd, Sr. is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Steven Romell Floyd, Sr. was killed by person.