Incident
Trooper Justin Schaffer was struck and killed by a fleeing vehicle while attempting to deploy stop sticks during a vehicle pursuit along I-5 in Chehalis.
The suspect driving the vehicle had stolen an item from a convenience store in Lacey the previous day. The man had threatened the clerk with a stun gun and threatened to run him over. Thurston County deputies spotted the truck the following day and attempted to stop it in Maytown. The vehicle fled into Lewis County with deputies pursuing it.
Trooper Schaffer was struck by the subject as he attempted to deploy stop sticks near mile marker 79. The man continued to flee until stopping and barricading himself inside his vehicle several miles later.
The subject was taken into custody by Thurston County deputies and charged with vehicular homicide when he tested positive for methamphetamine. He accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to 45 years in prison for murder and attempted murder.
Trooper Schaffer had served with the Washington State Patrol for six years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, parents, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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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.
Trooper Schaffer gave the Washington State Patrol 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Washington. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Schaffer.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Washington State Patrol has lost 34 officers; 23 of them lost to accidents.
Justin is one of 111 officers lost to accidents in WA, 32.6% of the 340 remembered there.
Justin is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Justin is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2020, 1 officer at Washington State Patrol was lost to accidents, the 4th heaviest of 20 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 2.
In 2020, 3 officers in WA were lost to accidents, the 4th heaviest of 70 years on record. The heaviest was 1968, with 5.
In 2020, 45 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 103rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2020, 49 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 105th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Justin was 28. Of the 14 lost to accidents at Washington State Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 39; the middle age was 38. Justin had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6.5 years.
Justin was 28. Of the 92 lost to accidents in WA whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 46.3; the middle age was 38. Justin had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Justin was 28. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Justin had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Justin was 28. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Justin had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 26.1% of these deaths at Washington State Patrol, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 17.4%.
March holds 11.7% of these deaths in WA; November holds the most, 15.3%. Tuesdays: 11.7%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Tuesdays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 67.6% of all 34 deaths at Washington State Patrol, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 8.7% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 32.6% of all 340 deaths in WA, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 9.9% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 6.9% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 5.6% of these deaths.
His people
Washington State Patrol has 34 officers remembered here, Justin among them.
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Vernon G. Fortin
Sep 30, 1923
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Irving M. Thorsvig
Oct 26, 1926
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Conard C. Tolson
Mar 24, 1929
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Henry Douglas Cossmann
Oct 9, 1929
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William H. Pautzke
May 8, 1930
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Loren G. Ray
Dec 16, 1934
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Allen E. Ludden
Mar 15, 1938
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John H. Gulden
Dec 23, 1942
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Thomas J. Hanlin
May 26, 1945
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Paul H. Johnson
Dec 12, 1949
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Ivan Belka
Aug 18, 1951
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Donald R. Campbell
Dec 21, 1951
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John F. Wright
Jun 28, 1953
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Eugene A. Bolstad
Sep 3, 1957
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Ernest E. Eichhorn
Sep 16, 1958
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Wesley H. Whittenberg
Dec 29, 1960
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Clarence C. Johnson
Sep 8, 1968
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Charles Frank Noble
Feb 5, 1972
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Joseph B. Modlin
Aug 15, 1974
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Thomas L. Hendrickson
Nov 17, 1974
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Glenda Darlene Thomas
May 24, 1985
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James S. Gain
Mar 2, 1987
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Clifford R. Hansell
Jul 22, 1987
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Raymond L. Hawn
Jan 17, 1990
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Steven Lee Frink
Mar 22, 1993
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James E. Saunders
Oct 7, 1999
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Tony Vian Radulescu
Feb 23, 2012
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Sean Michael O'Connell, Jr.
May 31, 2013
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Brent L. Hanger
Aug 6, 2015
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Suzanne Padgett
Sep 4, 2018
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Justin Robert Schaffer
Mar 24, 2020
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Eric Thomas Gunderson
Sep 26, 2021
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Christopher M. Gadd
Mar 2, 2024
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Tara-Marysa Guting
Dec 19, 2025
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 16-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
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