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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Shandon Wright died from complications following surgery to repair an injury sustained in an assault while on duty.
He was recovering at home after having surgery the previous day when he began having trouble breathing. Paramedics were sent to the home but were unable to resuscitate him. The Pierce County medical examiner ruled Deputy Wright's death an accident. He said Deputy Wright was suffering from a cold and the pain medication he was taking attacked his respiratory system.
Deputy Wright had served with the Pierce County Sheriff's Department for five years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and 2-year-old daughter.
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.
Deputy Sheriff Wright gave the Pierce County Sheriff's Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tacoma community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Wright.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Pierce County Sheriff's Department has lost 11 officers; 6 of them killed feloniously.
Shandon is one of 187 officers killed feloniously in WA, 55% of the 340 remembered there.
Shandon is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Shandon is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2011, 1 officer at Pierce County Sheriff's Department was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 2011, 2 officers in WA were killed feloniously, the 21st heaviest of 96 years on record. The heaviest was 1935, with 8.
In 2011, 88 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 71st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 2011, 92 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 69th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Shandon was 29. Of the 6 killed feloniously at Pierce County Sheriff's Department whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 35.8; the middle age was 34.5. Shandon had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 7.2 years.
Shandon was 29. Of the 159 killed feloniously in WA whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 46; the middle age was 41. Shandon had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Shandon was 29. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Shandon had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Shandon was 29. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Shandon had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 33.3% of these deaths at Pierce County Sheriff's Department; October holds the most, 33.3%. Thursdays: 16.7%.
March holds 11.2% of these deaths in WA; November holds the most, 11.8%. Thursdays: 14.4%.
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 54.5% of all 11 deaths at Pierce County Sheriff's Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 16.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 55% of all 340 deaths in WA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 4.3% 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 person, in 2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 1.8% of these deaths.
His people
Pierce County Sheriff's Department has 11 officers remembered here, Shandon among them.
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Lawrence Bunce
Nov 23, 1941
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Arthur T. Varco
Nov 23, 1941
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Kenneth J. Moran
Oct 6, 1978
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John Bananola
Oct 16, 1995
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Walter Kent Mundell, Jr.
Dec 28, 2009
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Shandon Wright
Mar 3, 2011
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Kory Shaffer
May 12, 2017
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Daniel Alexander McCartney
Jan 8, 2018
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Cooper Andrew Dyson
Dec 21, 2019
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Daryl Wayne Shuey
Nov 10, 2020
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Dominique Calata
Mar 16, 2022
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 7-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Pierce County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
