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Richard J. Sandlands
Incident
Federal Prohibition Agent Richard Sandlands was killed when his neck was broken while struggling with a suspect in a boat on the Detroit River in Detroit, Michigan. Agent Sandlands was on a temporary assignment to Detroit for 60 days during a concentrated effort to stop rum-running between Canada and the United States. He and another agent spotted the boat and boarded. When the second agent got off the boat to call for assistance the suspect attacked Agent Sandlands and killed him. When the second agent returned the boat was gone and Agent Sandlands could not be found. His body was found floating in the river several days later. The suspect and the suspect's wife were both charged with manslaughter. Charges were dropped against the wife. The suspect posted bond and was released. In two different trials the suspect said he thought Agent Sandlands was a hijacker. The jury was deadlocked in each case. The sharges were dropped nine years later.
Survivors
Agent Sandlands was survived by his wife, two children, and parents.
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.
Federal Prohibition Agent Sandlands served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Federal Prohibition Agent Sandlands.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Bureau of Prohibition has lost 37 officers; 20 of them killed feloniously.
Richard is one of 754 officers killed feloniously in DC, 53.1% of the 1,419 remembered there.
Richard is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Richard is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1929, 3 officers at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Bureau of Prohibition were killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 4 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 7.
In 1929, 14 officers in DC were killed feloniously, the 6th heaviest of 159 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 20.
In 1929, 205 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 12th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1929, 206 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 14th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Richard was 26. Of the 14 killed feloniously at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Bureau of Prohibition whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 37.8; the middle age was 34.
Richard was 26. Of the 580 killed feloniously in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 36.
Richard was 26. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.
Richard was 26. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
August holds 5% of these deaths at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Bureau of Prohibition; January holds the most, 20%. Fridays: 20%.
August holds 9.2% of these deaths in DC; July holds the most, 11.7%. Fridays: 16.2%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 54.1% of all 37 deaths at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Bureau of Prohibition, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.1% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 1.1% of these deaths.
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.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 1.8% of these deaths.
His people
United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Bureau of Prohibition has 37 officers remembered here, Richard among them.
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Charles Bintliff
May 13, 1927
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Charles C. Rouse Jun 12, 1927
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William Thomas Lewis
Jul 15, 1927
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Major A. Hart Jul 16, 1927
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George Nantz, Jr.
Jul 20, 1927
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Hunter Rizer Stotler Jul 26, 1927
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Thomas J. Corridan Nov 14, 1927
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Wesley Allen Fraser
Jan 2, 1928
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Walter Red Tolbert Feb 22, 1928
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Oscar C. Hanson
Mar 28, 1928
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Joseph Allen Purvis
Mar 30, 1928
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James C. Capen
May 10, 1928
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Warren C. Frahm Jun 18, 1928
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Irving Washburn
Jul 13, 1928
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Ludwig P. Johnsen
Jul 28, 1928
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Henry Alfred Hampton, SR
Sep 6, 1928
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John Nicola
Oct 4, 1928
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Francis Joseph Sears
Oct 28, 1928
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Patrick Cleburne Sharp
Dec 5, 1928
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Charles F. Alexander Jan 2, 1929
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Dano M. Jackley
May 14, 1929
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Lawrence A. Mommer Jun 27, 1929
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George A. Droz Jul 12, 1929
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Charles Foster Cooley, Jr. Jul 30, 1929
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Richard J. Sandlands
Aug 2, 1929
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Arthur Alvin Zimmerman Aug 11, 1929
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Charles F. Stevens
Sep 25, 1929
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Carl Louis Rehm Oct 16, 1929
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Otto P. Butler Dec 10, 1929
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Louis McClymonds Davies, Jr. Jan 14, 1930
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Robert Knox Moncure
Jan 18, 1930
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Franklin R. Patterson Jan 18, 1930
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Robert D. Freeman Feb 8, 1930
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Lamar Watson York
Apr 12, 1930
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Albert Lewis Brown
Jun 9, 1930
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Posie Lester Flinchum Jun 17, 1930
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Roy Walter Shafer Jun 30, 1930
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 57-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
36 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Bureau of Prohibition are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
