Roll of Honor
Victor A. Sam
Incident
Correctional Officer Victor Sam was shot and killed when he was recognized as a correctional officer during an off duty robbery along Multiview Drive, in Riverside County.
Officer Sam was driving to work to begin his shift at the California Rehabilitation Center, Norco, when he stopped to assist who he believed were two stranded motorists. Unbeknownst to Officer Sam, the two subjects had been committing robberies in the area while pretending to have car trouble. As Officer Sam approached, one of the subjects drew a sawed-off shotgun and announced the robbery.
As the subject took his personal items he discovered Officer Sam's correctional officer identification. He told his accomplice that Officer Sam had to die, and after handing the items to the accomplice, he took the officer up an embankment and shot him in the back of the head execution-style.
Officer Sam was reported missing after he failed to arrive at work. His body was discovered by his own father three days later.
Both subjects, 19 and 23, were apprehended a week later in Riverside. Both were convicted of murder and sentenced to life. On May 16, 2013, Governor Jerry Brown blocked the parole of the youngest.
Officer Sam is survived by his wife and son.
Survivors
Officer Sam is survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-78D28541- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Correctional Officer Sam served with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Sam.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Correctional Officer Victor A. Sam 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 30 of 42 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Victor A. Sam's cause is highlighted.
How Victor A. Sam Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Victor A. Sam is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Victor A. Sam was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
41 officers from California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
