Incident
Sheriff Wyckoff suffered a fatal heart attack after his jail was invaded by an angry mob who lynched several prisoners for a murder the previous day. The citizens held down Sheriff Wyckoff and his deputies as they took the prisoners to nearby gallows. After hanging the first two prisoners they returned to the jail to get the inmate being held for the murder of Seattle Police Officer David Sires the previous year. The men also took this suspect and hanged. Shortly afterwards Sheriff Wyckoff suffered a fatal heart attack.
Survivors
Sheriff Wyckoff had served as Sheriff for 19 years and was survived by his wife and son.
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
144 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Wyckoff gave the King County Sheriff's Office 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Seattle community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Cardiac
King County Sheriff's Office has lost 18 officers; 1 of them lost to cardiac events.
Louis is one of 18 officers lost to cardiac events in WA, 5.3% of the 340 remembered there.
Louis is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Louis is one of 1,309 officers lost to cardiac events worldwide, 3.8% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1882, 1 officer in WA was lost to cardiac events, the 3rd heaviest of 16 years on record. The heaviest was 1987, with 2.
In 1882, 1 officer in the United States was lost to cardiac events, the 122nd heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
In 1882, 1 officer worldwide was lost to cardiac events, the 122nd heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
Who
Louis was 52. Of the 15 lost to cardiac events in WA whose age is recorded, half were between 45 and 56.5; the middle age was 48. Louis had served 19 years; the middle length of service was 17.5 years.
Louis was 52. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. Louis had served 19 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
Louis was 52. Of the 1,251 lost to cardiac events worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 42.5 and 55; the middle age was 48. Louis had served 19 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
When
January holds 22.2% of these deaths in WA, more than any other month. Fridays: 16.7%.
January holds 9.6% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Fridays: 15.8%.
January holds 9.5% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Fridays: 15.8%.
How
Cardiac deaths account for 5.6% of all 18 deaths at King County Sheriff's Office, the 3rd most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 5.3% of all 340 deaths in WA, the 4th 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 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 4th most common cause.
His people
King County Sheriff's Office has 18 officers remembered here, Louis among them.
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Wesley F. Cherry Mar 6, 1854
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Louis V. Wyckoff
Jan 20, 1882
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George W. Poor Jul 26, 1891
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Cornelius Rowley
Jul 4, 1902
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Robert Carl Scott
Apr 4, 1920
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Steven S. Watson Jul 9, 1934
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Thomas Charles Meehan
Nov 13, 1935
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John Frederick Mines
Jul 19, 1946
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George H. Yeaman, Jr.
Jul 22, 1946
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Norman F. Silkworth
Mar 7, 1952
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Donald A. Armeni
Sep 15, 1954
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Samuel A. Hicks
Jun 24, 1982
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Michael L. Raburn
Mar 27, 1984
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Richard S. Cochran, II
May 22, 1991
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Mark William Brown
Feb 27, 1999
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Richard Anthony Herzog
Jun 22, 2002
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Steven E. Cox
Dec 2, 2006
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Reginald Bernard Thomas
Sep 7, 2020
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 23-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
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