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Incident
Detective Lem Savage succumbed to gunshot wounds he received when he was transporting two prisoners to jail. He had arrested two subjects when he found them burglarizing a store. He searched the two men before transporting them but missed a handgun hidden in one of the man's pants. During the transport, one of the men produced the gun and shot Detective Savage near the Amarillo Police Station on West 4th Avenue. As the suspect fled, he kidnapped three other people before being apprehended. Detective Savage died from his wounds at St. Anthony's Hospital three days later. The suspect was an escapee from prison. He was convicted of federal kidnapping charges and sent to Alcatraz Prison. While in Alcatraz, the subject was part of an escape attempt that ultimately left Correctional Officer Harold Stites and Correctional William Miller of the Federal Bureau of Prisons dead from gunshot wounds. The suspect was executed in 1948 for his role in the two murders. Detective Savage had served with the Amarillo Police Department for three years and the city of Amarillo for 16 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.
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.
Detective Savage gave the Amarillo Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Amarillo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Savage.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Amarillo Police Department has lost 16 officers; 10 of them killed feloniously.
Lemuel is one of 1,461 officers killed feloniously in TX, 60.3% of the 2,422 remembered there.
Lemuel is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Lemuel is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1945, 1 officer at Amarillo Police Department was killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 8 years on record. The heaviest was 1934, with 2.
In 1945, 8 officers in TX were killed feloniously, the 81st heaviest of 180 years on record. The heaviest was 1928, with 19.
In 1945, 68 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 105th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1945, 70 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 108th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Lemuel was 52. Of the 10 killed feloniously at Amarillo Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 24.5 and 47.5; the middle age was 27.5. Lemuel had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 9.5 years.
Lemuel was 52. Of the 1,330 killed feloniously in TX whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 37. Lemuel had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Lemuel was 52. 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. Lemuel had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Lemuel was 52. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Lemuel had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 10% of these deaths at Amarillo Police Department; January holds the most, 40%. Thursdays: 20%.
March holds 7.9% of these deaths in TX; December holds the most, 10.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
March holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 62.5% of all 16 deaths at Amarillo Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 30% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 60.3% of all 2,422 deaths in TX, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 22.3% 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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Amarillo Police Department has 16 officers remembered here, Lemuel among them.
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Preston George Burnam
Jan 5, 1934
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Chester Lewis Grounds
Feb 14, 1934
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Lemuel Dodd Savage
Mar 15, 1945
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B. W. Woods, Jr.
Jan 17, 1955
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Marvin E. Moore, Jr.
Jan 10, 1960
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Claude Bishop Evans
Dec 18, 1961
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Jerry Wayne Cawthon
Jan 1, 1964
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William Stanley Meadows
Jun 8, 1964
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Berry Joe McGuire
Dec 25, 1980
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Delbert Wayne Miller, Sr.
Nov 24, 1982
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James Delbert Mitchell, Jr.
Nov 11, 1985
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Mark Steven Simmons
Dec 17, 2008
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Justin Ryan Scherlen
Aug 4, 2016
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Raquel Virginia Saunders
Oct 13, 2021
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Michael David Dunn
Oct 22, 2021
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Miguel Eladio Sanchez
Dec 27, 2021
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 27-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
15 officers from Amarillo Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
