Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Martin Sowders was accidentally shot and killed by another deputy during a shootout with a suspect wanted for robbing a pharmacy. During the arrest, the man opened fire on the deputies. Deputy Sowders was struck by return fire from one of the other deputies. The suspect was later identified as an escaped convict from the Washington State Penitentiary. Deputy Sowders had served seven years with the Clark County Sheriff's Office.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WA-618CF6EA- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Martin. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Sowders gave the Clark County Sheriff's Office 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Vancouver community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Sowders.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Martin S. Sowders 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 Clark County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 5 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 20% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Martin S. Sowders's cause is highlighted.
How Martin S. Sowders Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Martin S. Sowders is highlighted in Nov.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Clark County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
