Roll of Honor
John Walter Sanford, Jr.
Incident
Deputy John Sanford was killed in an automobile accident while responding to a disturbance call.
Deputy Sanford, along with a second deputy in another vehicle, were responding to a disturbance call shortly after midnight. As they were traveling west on Route 360, the lead deputy encountered a car driving on the wrong side of the highway in a blind curve. The deputy radioed Deputy Sanford to warn him, but Deputy Sanford was unable to avoid the collision, and was struck head-on. Both vehicles burst into flames as a result of the collision. The other deputy was able to free Deputy Sanford from the wreckage, but he died at the scene from his injuries. The driver of the other vehicle was also killed.
Deputy Sanford had served as a part-time deputy for the Northumberland County Sheriff's Office for 11 years. He was also the assistant chief and a former chief of the Fairfields Volunteer Fire Department.
Deputy Sanford had served as a part-time deputy for the Northumberland County Sheriff's Office for 11 years. He was also the assistant chief and a former chief of the Fairfields Volunteer Fire Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-VA-5B7BE917- 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 Sanford gave the Northumberland County Sheriff's Office 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Heathsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Sanford.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff John Walter Sanford, Jr. 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 VA, 203 of 654 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31% of this state's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Walter Sanford, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How John Walter Sanford, Jr. Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John Walter Sanford, Jr. is highlighted in Jun.