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Incident
Lieutenant Roger Sanders succumbed to injuries sustained on August 11th, 1978, when a pipebomb exploded in Washington State Penitentiary's Department of Education building in Walla Walla. Officers found the pipe bomb during a routine shakedown and moved it to a control room. It detonated as Lieutenant Sanders attempted to open one of the end caps. Lieutenant Sanders lost both hands and suffered serious injuries to his stomach. Two other officers were also injured. Lieutenant Sanders was transported to a local hospital where he died on September 1st, 1978. The bomb had been made and placed at the location by prisoners. Two inmates, a rapist and a murderer, escaped after the explosion but officials did not think they were related to it. No one was ever held responsible.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Lieutenant Sanders served with the Washington State Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Washington. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Sanders.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Washington State Department of Corrections has lost 11 officers; 6 of them killed feloniously.
Roger is one of 187 officers killed feloniously in WA, 55% of the 340 remembered there.
Roger is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Roger is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1978, 1 officer at Washington State Department of Corrections was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1978, 4 officers in WA were killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 96 years on record. The heaviest was 1935, with 8.
In 1978, 121 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 43rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1978, 135 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 40th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Roger was 40. Of the 4 killed feloniously at Washington State Department of Corrections whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 35.5; the middle age was 33.5.
Roger was 40. Of the 159 killed feloniously in WA whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 46; the middle age was 41.
Roger was 40. 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.
Roger was 40. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
September holds 16.7% of these deaths at Washington State Department of Corrections; January holds the most, 16.7%. Fridays: 33.3%.
September holds 9.6% of these deaths in WA; November holds the most, 11.8%. Fridays: 13.4%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
September holds 8.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 54.5% of all 11 deaths at Washington State Department of Corrections, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was explosives, in 16.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 55% of all 340 deaths in WA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was explosives, in 0.5% 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 explosives, in 0.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was explosives, in 0.3% of these deaths.
His people
Washington State Department of Corrections has 11 officers remembered here, Roger among them.
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Herbert L. Briggs
Feb 12, 1934
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William Warfield
Nov 17, 1970
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Roger G. Sanders
Sep 1, 1978
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William Cross
Jun 15, 1979
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Michael Steven Erdahl
May 29, 1985
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Jayme Lee Biendl
Jan 29, 2011
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Berisford Anthony Morse
May 17, 2020
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David Alan Christensen
Dec 29, 2020
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Gabriel Kyle Forrest
Jun 17, 2021
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Darryl Goodrich, Jr.
Aug 20, 2021
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Jay Miller
Feb 11, 2023
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 43-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Washington State Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.
