Roll of Honor
Samuel S. Leffler
Incident
Location: California Weapon: Officer's handgun Offender: Acquitted
Night Watchman Samuel Leffler was shot and killed while attempting to arrest two trespassers in the Southern Pacific Railroad yards along San Fernando Road in Los Angeles, California (the modern-day location is the Los Angeles State Historic Park).
He had ejected both men from the yards the previous night but located them sleeping in a boxcar at about 6:00 am. A struggle ensued as he attempted to arrest them during which he was disarmed and shot with his own service weapon.
Two men were arrested a short time later and charged with his murder. Both were acquitted at trial after claiming self-defense.
Night Watchman Leffler had served with the Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department for one year.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-B4274576- 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
135 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Night Watchman Leffler gave the Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Night Watchman Samuel S. Leffler 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%.
At Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department, 15 of 23 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Samuel S. Leffler's cause is highlighted.
How Samuel S. Leffler Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel S. Leffler is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Samuel S. Leffler was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
22 officers from Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
