Officer

Samuel C. Hayden

Metropolitan Police Department — Washington, DC
Felonious
End of Watch February 27, 1921
Age 43
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
The Vigil Panel 40 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Samuel Hayden was shot and killed by a shooting suspect who was hiding in a hall closet at 950 Westminster Street, NW. The man had been released from St. Elizabeth's Mental Hospital and had randomly shot two men before entering a house of the second victim. The officers were advised the man was hiding in a third floor bedroom. As the officers prepared to enter the bedroom the man opened fire from a hall closet, striking Officer Hayden in the head. One of the officers returned fire, striking and fatally wounding the suspect. Officer Hayden had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for 11 years.

Survivors

He was survived by two brothers and two sisters and was buried in Lodge, Westmoreland County, Virginia.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Hayden gave the Metropolitan Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Hayden.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity mpdc.dc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 27, 1921
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 43
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Samuel is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1921, 248 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Samuel was 43. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Samuel had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Metropolitan Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Samuel among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Samuel C. Hayden

Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch February 27, 1921

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 23-W

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