Roll of Honor

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Police Officer

Samuel Sanchez

Guadalupe Police Department — Guadalupe, CA

Felonious

End of Watch April 13, 1969

Age 25

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Badge 5

The Vigil Panel 105 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Officer Sanchez was transporting three prisoners to the jail in Santa Maria when his vehicle was struck by a vehicle being operated by a drunk driver. Two of the prisoners, ages 16 and 25, were also killed. The 3rd 20-year-old prisoner and Officer Sanchez's 25-year-old partner who was driving were hospitalized. The 35-year-old driver of the other car, father of 8 children, was convicted of reckless driving and one count of manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in jail. Officer Sanchez had served with the Guadalupe Police Department for 4 years. He had four brothers and a sister-in-law who served in law enforcement.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-0A79A142
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.
Police Officer Sanchez gave the Guadalupe Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Guadalupe community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Sanchez.

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

Agency

Department Guadalupe Police Department

Location Guadalupe, CA

Platform Identity gpd.santabarbara.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 13, 1969

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 25

Badge Number 5

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Sentenced to 18 months

Police Officer Samuel Sanchez 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%.

Guadalupe Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Samuel Sanchez's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Samuel Sanchez Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 18 months

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel Sanchez is highlighted in Apr.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Samuel Sanchez was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518