Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Lewis Dryden was shot and killed as he and a Princess Anne police officer attempted to serve an arrest warrant on a man who had shot his stepfather.
The officers encountered the suspect walking down the street, carrying the shotgun he had used in the previous shooting. As they attempted to take him into custody the man was able to obtain control of Deputy Dryden's pistol and fatally shot him. He then shot and wounded the Princess Anne police officer before fleeing.
The suspect, age 21, was arrested several days later. He was convicted of Deputy Dryden's murder and sentenced to life in prison. After seven years in prison an order was received to transfer him to the Crownsville Hospital for the insane after he started showing signs of insanity. On January 3, 1932, as guards were removing him the prison he stabbed and critically injured a guard.
Deputy Dryden was survived by his wife.
Survivors
Deputy Dryden was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Dryden served with the Somerset County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Westover community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Dryden.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Lewis Lester Dryden 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 MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 2.5 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Lewis Lester Dryden's cause is highlighted.
How Lewis Lester Dryden Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lewis Lester Dryden is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Lewis Lester Dryden was killed by officer's handgun.