Special Media Release
Subject: National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
Date: February 20, 2012
The Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Office announces the name of fallen law enforcement officer, Samuel Arthur Funkhouser of Jerome, VA will be carved on to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall in Washington, DC at a commemorative ceremony to be held on May 13th, 2012. The wall is a national monument dedicated to law enforcement officers who have died in the line-of-duty.
On December 27th, 1926, Mr. Funkhouser who was the Justice of the Peace for the Ashby Magisterial District was directed by Shenandoah County Sheriff Bernard M. Borden to respond to a domestic disturbance near his home in the Jerome area. Upon arrival Mr. Funkhouser was shot in the face at close range with a handgun and subsequently rushed to the hospital. Mr. Funkhouser’s condition was serious but described as non-life threatening and at first showed signs of improvement. However, by March 7th, 1927, his condition had worsened and he died from complications from the gunshot wound he had received. At the time of his death, Mr. Funkhouser was 43 years old, married with three (3) young children and had served as Justice of the Peace for three (3) years.
A 21 year old male from Columbia Furnace, VA was identified as the shooter and located by Sheriff Borden the next day, but incidentally died before being taken into custody and tried for the crime.
Until just recently, the Sheriff’s Office was not aware that such an event had taken place and to the agency’s knowledge is the only known incident of this type where a law enforcement officer was killed in the line-of-duty in Shenandoah County. The Sheriff’s Office researched the incident and in November 2011 submitted Mr. Funkhouser’s name for placement on the wall in recognition of his ultimate sacrifice.
The Sheriff’s Office would also like to thank Mr. Funkhouser’s family, local historians, and staff of the Shenandoah County Circuit Court and Shenandoah County Public Schools for their assistance with researching the event.
Please contact Major Scott Proctor for additional information 459-6100/335-0911.