Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper Justin Schaffer was struck and killed by a fleeing vehicle while attempting to deploy stop sticks during a vehicle pursuit along I-5 in Chehalis.
The suspect driving the vehicle had stolen an item from a convenience store in Lacey the previous day. The man had threatened the clerk with a stun gun and threatened to run him over. Thurston County deputies spotted the truck the following day and attempted to stop it in Maytown. The vehicle fled into Lewis County with deputies pursuing it.
Trooper Schaffer was struck by the subject as he attempted to deploy stop sticks near mile marker 79. The man continued to flee until stopping and barricading himself inside his vehicle several miles later.
The subject was taken into custody by Thurston County deputies and charged with vehicular homicide when he tested positive for methamphetamine. He accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to 45 years in prison for murder and attempted murder.
Trooper Schaffer had served with the Washington State Patrol for six years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, parents, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WA-1851043C- 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.
Trooper Schaffer gave the Washington State Patrol 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Washington. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Schaffer.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Trooper Justin Robert Schaffer 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 WA, 111 of 339 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32.7% of this state's fallen. That is 1.7 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Washington State Patrol, 23 of 34 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 67.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Justin Robert Schaffer's cause is highlighted.
How Justin Robert Schaffer Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 45 years
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Justin Robert Schaffer is highlighted in Mar.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
33 officers from Washington State Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
