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Deputy Sheriff

Sam Collins

Bell County Sheriff's Department — Pineville, KY
Felonious
United States flag Kentucky flag
End of Watch October 3, 1911
Age 23
The Vigil Panel 26 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 25

Incident

Deputy Sam Collins and Deputy Oland Collins were shot and killed in Lee County, Virginia, as they attempted to serve a warrant on a subject wanted as a witness in a murder trial.

The deputies, accompanied by the Bell County sheriff and the Lee County sheriff, had gone to the woman's home at Gibson Station, Virginia, in order to return her to Kentucky. When the posse was refused entry into the home they attempted to force their way in, but the occupants opened fire.

Both deputies, who were brothers, were killed and the Lee County sheriff was wounded.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
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September 9, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Collins served with the Bell County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Pineville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Collins.

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

Agency

Department Bell County Sheriff's Department
Type Sheriff's Office
Location Pineville, Bell County, KY
Platform Identity bcso.bell.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 3, 1911
Age 23
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Sam is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1911, 149 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 27th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Sam was 23. 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.

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

When

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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 gun; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Bell County Sheriff's Department has 26 officers remembered here, Sam among them.

Across the years

Deputy Sheriff Sam Collins

Bell County Sheriff's Department · End of Watch October 3, 1911

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 2-E

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