Roll of Honor
Incident
Lieutenant Vickie Wax was shot and killed with her own service weapon during her attempt at handcuffing a shoplifting suspect.
She had succeeded in placing a handcuff on one hand and was attempting to cuff the other hand when a struggle ensued. Lieutenant Wax was knocked down, and she lost possession of her weapon. She was then shot. A store security guard and a customer, who had assisted her during the struggle, were also shot and seriously wounded.
The suspect escaped by carjacking a vehicle but later turned himself in. He was charged with first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree attempted murder, and several other charges. He was convicted of the charges and sentenced to death.
Lieutenant Wax had served with the Baton Rouge Police Department for 27 years.
Survivors
She is survived by her husband, father, two brothers, sister, and two nephews.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-LA-1E144A94- 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
27 years. You could have gone home.
Lieutenant Wax gave the Baton Rouge Police Department 27 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Baton Rouge community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Wax.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant Vickie Salassi Wax 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 LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 61.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Baton Rouge Police Department, 17 of 27 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Vickie Salassi Wax's cause is highlighted.
How Vickie Salassi Wax Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Vickie Salassi Wax is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Vickie Salassi Wax was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from Baton Rouge Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
