Theodore R. Chambers
Agency patch
Sergeant

Theodore R. Chambers

Oregon State Police — Salem, OR
Felonious
End of Watch April 29, 1945
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
The Vigil Panel 81 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Chambers was shot and killed while attempting to arrest two suspects who were wanted for armed robbery in Idaho. When Sergeant Chambers and three other officers found the suspect's car abandoned they followed footprints to an abandoned school. When Sergeant Chambers opened a storage closet in the basement both suspects shot him. Two other officers were wounded before a civilian, who saw the shootout, shot and killed one suspect and wounded the other. The wounded suspect was convicted of murder and executed. Sergeant Chambers had been with the agency for four years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OR-F98AB224
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Chambers gave the Oregon State Police 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oregon. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Chambers.

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

Agency

Department Oregon State Police
Type State Police
Location Salem, OR
Platform Identity osp.or.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 29, 1945
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Sergeant Theodore R. Chambers 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 Oregon State Police, 16 of 31 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.6% of this agency's fallen.

Oregon State Police
16
of 31 officers
51.6% 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. Theodore R. Chambers's cause is highlighted.

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

How Theodore R. Chambers Compares

Years of Service
4
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Theodore R. Chambers is highlighted in Apr.

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. Theodore R. Chambers was killed by gun.

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