Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Mayner Lambert was shot and killed from ambush by a suspect who held a grudge against Deputy Lambert for previous encounters.
The suspect had been arrested by Deputy Lambert after deserting from the US Army during WWII. Deputy Lambert had also been involved in an incident in which a citizen shot and killed the suspect's brother-in-law after accusing the man of stealing whiskey from his home. Deputy Lambert had accompanied the citizen to arrest the man, but when they located the man, the citizen immediately opened fire and killed him.
When Deputy Lambert was shot, he had just returned home with his wife and was standing on his front porch speaking to a neighbor girl and another deputy. The suspect shot him in the back with a .30-.30 rifle from a clump of bushes 100 feet away.
The suspect, 25, turned himself in several days later and confessed to the murder. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. Several other men were arrested and held as accessories to murder.
Deputy Lambert had served with the Dickenson County Sheriff's Office for just over 4 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, and 15 siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-FDED9A6A- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Lambert gave the Dickenson County Sheriff's Office 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Clintwood community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Lambert.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Mayner Cleve Lambert is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In VA, 394 of 655 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.2% of this state's fallen. That is 60.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Dickenson County Sheriff's Office, 7 of 7 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. Mayner Cleve Lambert's cause is highlighted.
How Mayner Cleve Lambert Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Mayner Cleve Lambert is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Mayner Cleve Lambert was killed by rifle.
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Dickenson County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
