Steven Romell Floyd Sr.
Agency patch
Lieutenant

Steven Romell Floyd Sr.

Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch February 2, 2017
Age 47
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
The Vigil Panel 166 ›
Gender Male

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

Permanent identifier
BO-US-DE-6216B7D2
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Steven. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Steven is one person.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

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

Type Corrections
Location Dover, DE
Platform Identity ddc.kent.de.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 2, 2017
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Age 47
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Person

Military Service

Steven Romell Floyd Sr. served in the U.S. Army (1988–1994) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Lieutenant Steven Romell Floyd Sr. 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 97,759 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 49 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Delaware Department of Correction
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
DE — Statewide
25
of 51 officers
49% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Steven Romell Floyd Sr.'s cause is highlighted.

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

How Steven Romell Floyd Sr. Compares

Age at Death
47
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
16
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Steven Romell Floyd Sr. is highlighted in Feb.

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. Steven Romell Floyd Sr. was killed by person.

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

Incident Location

Military Service

Steven Romell Floyd Sr. served in the U.S. Army (1988–1994) before joining law enforcement.

Visit Steven Romell Floyd Sr.’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Delaware Department of Correction are honored on badge.nw.