Jack A. Samuels
Agency patch
Chief of Police

Jack A. Samuels

Waynesboro Police Department — Waynesboro, GA
Felonious
End of Watch June 23, 1918
Age 57
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
The Vigil Panel 34 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief of Police Jack Samuels was shot and killed as he and other officers raided a blind tiger in search of illegal whiskey. A member of the raiding posse was also shot and critically wounded. The suspect, who opened fire fire from a chimney he was hiding in, was shot and killed.

Chief Samuels had served with the Waynesboro Police Department for six years.

No passage of time will ever erase your memory, service and sacrifice, and rest in peace knowing that you will always be remembered.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo Delaware State Police (Retired) June 23rd, 2020

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-40287AD9
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.
Chief of Police Samuels gave the Waynesboro Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Waynesboro community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Samuels.

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

Agency

Location Waynesboro, GA
Platform Identity wpd.burke.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 23, 1918
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 57
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun
Offender Shot and killed

Chief of Police Jack A. Samuels 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Waynesboro Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
GA — Statewide
548
of 903 officers
60.7% 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. Jack A. Samuels'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 Jack A. Samuels Compares

Age at End of Watch
57
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
6
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jack A. Samuels is highlighted in Jun.

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. Jack A. Samuels was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518