Rufus H. Rodgers

Aiken Department of Public Safety — Aiken, SC

Felonious

End of Watch April 22, 1950

Age 65

The Vigil Panel 86 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Officer Rufus Rodgers was shot and killed with his own weapon after responding to a domestic dispute between a father and two sons. A second officer was arresting one of the sons for possessing a knife and Officer Rodgers was about to arrest the father. The other son snuck up behind Officer Rodgers and grabbed his gun. As he turned around he and the suspect's father were shot several times. The father was also killed. The suspect fled the scene but was later arrested in the woods behind his house during a manhunt. The 26-year-old suspect was subsequently sentenced to life.

Survivors

Officer Rodgers is survived by his wife, son, and five daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-SC-83E97752
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.
Patrolman Rodgers served with the Aiken Department of Public Safety.
Thank you for your service to the people of South Carolina. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Rodgers.

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

Agency

Department Aiken Department of Public Safety

Location Aiken, SC

Platform Identity adps.aiken.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 22, 1950

Age 65

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Patrolman Rufus H. Rodgers 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 SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Aiken Department of Public Safety, 6 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.7% of this agency's fallen.

Aiken Department of Public Safety

of 7 officers

85.7% Felonious

SC — Statewide

271

of 438 officers

61.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious