Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Herman Saunders was killed when he fell from the running board of a vehicle while he and a Governor's officer pursued a car suspected of carrying illegal liquor approximately one mile from Sniders.
The Governor's office was driving the car and had pulled alongside the vehicle they were pursuing. Deputy Saunders was standing on the running board of their vehicle when the other car swerved into them, causing him to fall to the ground. He suffered a fractured skull and other serious injuries.
The four occupants of the vehicle were arrested and held pending charges.
Deputy Saunders had served with the Colleton County Sheriff's Office for six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, stepfather, two brothers, one half-brother, and three half-sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-6509AFE9- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Saunders served with the Colleton County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Walterboro community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Saunders.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Herman Russell Saunders is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In SC, 137 of 438 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.3% of this state's fallen. That is 0.3 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Colleton County Sheriff's Dept., 1 of 4 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Herman Russell Saunders's cause is highlighted.
How Herman Russell Saunders Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Herman Russell Saunders is highlighted in Sep.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Colleton County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
