Roll of Honor
Strother W. "Ted" Lewis, Sr.
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Ted Lewis was shot and killed by a prisoner in the old Caroline County Jail while questioning him about a robbery. During the interrogation the subject struck the weapon that Deputy Lewis was holding, causing it to discharge and strike Deputy Lewis in the head. The man then fled the scene with Deputy Lewis' service weapon. The man was eventually apprehended after being shot by a posse and almost killed. He was initially sentenced to death but received a life sentence during a second trial. Deputy Lewis was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWI and had served with the Caroline County Sheriff's Office for 11 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-999D3257- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Lewis gave the Caroline County Sheriff's Office 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Bowling Green 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
Strother W. "Ted" Lewis, Sr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff Strother W. "Ted" Lewis, Sr. 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 VA, 395 of 654 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Caroline County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Strother W. "Ted" Lewis, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Strother W. "Ted" Lewis, Sr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Strother W. "Ted" Lewis, Sr. is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Strother W. "Ted" Lewis, Sr. was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Caroline County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
