Samuel Smyth Young
Agency patch
Officer

Samuel Smyth Young

Portland Police Bureau — Portland, OR
Felonious
End of Watch September 23, 1908
Age 62
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
The Vigil Panel 22 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Samuel Young was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man who was robbing a local saloon at the corner of SE 19th Avenue and SE Umatilla Avenue.

He was making his rounds when he entered the saloon to speak with the owner. While inside, a masked man entered and announced a robbery. Officer Young attempted to talk the man into going outside but the man opened fire, fatally wounding him in the chest.

His killer was never apprehended.

Officer Young had served with the Portland Police Bureau for 25 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

25 years. You could have gone home.
Officer Young gave the Portland Police Bureau 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Portland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Young.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Portland, Clackamas County, OR
Platform Identity ppb.multnomah.or.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 23, 1908
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
Age 62
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
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 1908, 129 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 35th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Samuel was 62. 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 25 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

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

Portland Police Bureau has 31 officers remembered here, Samuel among them.

VI

Where

Officer Samuel Smyth Young

Portland Police Bureau · End of Watch September 23, 1908

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 56-W

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