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Samuel Anderson Pickels
Agency patch
Supervisor

Samuel Anderson Pickels

Virginia Department of Corrections — Richmond, VA
Felonious
United States flag Virginia flag
End of Watch July 23, 1971
Age 65
The Vigil Panel 108 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 15

Incident

Supervisor Samuel Pickels was strangled to death in the Virginia State Penitentiary's metal shop by unknown assailants.

An inmate located his body on the shop floor and alerted other officers.

Supervisor Pickels had served with the Virginia Department of Corrections for 21 years and supervised the metal shop.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Supervisor Pickels served with the Virginia Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Virginia. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Supervisor Pickels.

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

Agency

Department Virginia Department of Corrections
Type Corrections
Location Richmond, City of Richmond, VA
Platform Identity vdcorr.richmond.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 23, 1971
Age 65
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Person

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1971, 168 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 18th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Samuel was 65. 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.

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

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

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 person, in 2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Virginia Department of Corrections has 16 officers remembered here, Samuel among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Supervisor Samuel Anderson Pickels

Virginia Department of Corrections · End of Watch July 23, 1971

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 63-E

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