Roll of Honor
Richard J. Sandlands
Incident
Federal Prohibition Agent Richard Sandlands was killed when his neck was broken while struggling with a suspect in a boat on the Detroit River in Detroit, Michigan. Agent Sandlands was on a temporary assignment to Detroit for 60 days during a concentrated effort to stop rum-running between Canada and the United States. He and another agent spotted the boat and boarded. When the second agent got off the boat to call for assistance the suspect attacked Agent Sandlands and killed him. When the second agent returned the boat was gone and Agent Sandlands could not be found. His body was found floating in the river several days later. The suspect and the suspect's wife were both charged with manslaughter. Charges were dropped against the wife. The suspect posted bond and was released. In two different trials the suspect said he thought Agent Sandlands was a hijacker. The jury was deadlocked in each case. The sharges were dropped nine years later.
Survivors
Agent Sandlands was survived by his wife, two children, and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-FD12ED0C- 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.
Federal Prohibition Agent Sandlands served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Federal Prohibition Agent Sandlands.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Federal Prohibition Agent Richard J. Sandlands 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Bureau of Prohibition, 20 of 37 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 54.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard J. Sandlands's cause is highlighted.
How Richard J. Sandlands Compares
Offender Outcome
Charges dismissed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard J. Sandlands is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard J. Sandlands was killed by person.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
36 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Bureau of Prohibition are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
