Roll of Honor
Incident
Guard Samuel Van Auken succumbed to injuries sustained when an inmate beat him and another guard with a steel mop handle during an escape attempt from the old county jail, located in Stroudsburg at 34 North 7th Street. Four men had been arrested earlier in the day on burglary charges when state police caught them breaking into a Stroudsburg home and brought them to jail. One of the men, who was an escapee from a New Jersey reformatory, had given a false name in order to conceal his real identity. The man was escorted into the jail office after requesting to make a phone call. While in the office, the man attacked Guard Van Auken and a second guard with a metal broom handle. Guard Van Auken suffered fatal injuries, and the second guard was seriously injured. The jail's cook prevented the man from escaping after alerting Stroudsburg police and then attacking the prisoner with a chair. The 22-year-old suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life. He received an additional 3 to 7 years for attacking the other guard. Guard Van Auken was a World War II veteran and had served as the weekend jail guard at the Monroe County Jail for seven years. He also served in part-time capacities with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, East Stroudsburg Police Department, and the East Stroudsburg Area School District Police.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two brothers, and three sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-0A3B4F7D- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Guard Van Auken gave the Monroe County Correctional Facility 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Stroudsburg community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Samuel W. Van Auken served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Guard Samuel W. Van Auken 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 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. Samuel W. Van Auken's cause is highlighted.
How Samuel W. Van Auken Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel W. Van Auken is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Samuel W. Van Auken was killed by blunt object.