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Incident
Sheriff Mason suffered a fatal heart attack while attempting to rescue several miners who had been trapped in a mine during a severe snowstorm.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- 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.
Sheriff Mason served with the San Juan County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Silverton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Mason.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Cardiac
Virgil is the only officer of San Juan County Sheriff's Office remembered here.
Virgil is one of 11 officers lost to cardiac events in CO, 3% of the 361 remembered there.
Virgil is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Virgil is one of 1,309 officers lost to cardiac events worldwide, 3.8% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1978, 1 officer in CO was lost to cardiac events, the 2nd heaviest of 10 years on record. The heaviest was 1981, with 2.
In 1978, 19 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 12th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
In 1978, 19 officers worldwide were lost to cardiac events, the 12th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
When
December holds 9.1% of these deaths in CO; October holds the most, 27.3%. Saturdays: 45.5%.
December holds 8.5% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Saturdays: 14.3%.
December holds 8.5% of these deaths worldwide; January holds the most, 9.5%. Saturdays: 14.4%.
How
Cardiac deaths account for 100% of all 1 deaths at San Juan County Sheriff's Office.
Cardiac deaths account for 3% of all 361 deaths in CO, the 3rd most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 3.8% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the 4th most common cause.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 63-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from San Juan County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.