Sad day for Kansas Law Enforcement

[Janet Harrington]

Today was a sad day for the law enforcement family and the citizens of Kansas.  We have lost our dear Greenwood County Sheriff Matt Samuels.  While trying to serve an arrest warrant this morning, Sheriff Samuels was shot and killed by the man he was trying to arrest.  Apparently two deputies and Sheriff Samuels were told that a man they were looking for was in a farm house about 6 miles north of Virgil Kansas.  This is in the NE part of Greenwood County.  Sheriff Samuels, being the trusting bear of a man that he is, knocked on the door and when he entered the house asked for the suspect.  Samuels was told that the suspect was not there, but after the occupants were told that they were lying, Sheriff Samuels was shot with a .45 pistol just above the collar bone.  Samuels was killed instantly, but resuscitation efforts were attempted.  Three occupants of the house were arrested, but the shooter holed up inside the house.  Around 9:00 p.m., the Kansas Highway Patrol Swat team entered the farm house and took into the custody the man who shot Sheriff Samuels.  It was told to me that the SWAT team went inside with shields and the suspect shot at them 4 or 5 times.  Anyway, the suspect is in custody as are three other men.  It is my understanding that there was an active meth lab inside the house.  Sheriff Samuels was a good friend of mine and a sheriff that I enjoyed serving with while I was sheriff.  Samuels started his law enforcement career in 1986 as a deputy for his dad, Sheriff Charlie Samuels.  Matt Samuels had just started his second term as sheriff.  He leaves behind his wife, Tammy, who works at the El Dorado Correctional Facility, a son, Heath, and a daughter, Sharlee.  I think I got the daughter's name right.  I will miss him very much as will all of the citizens of Greenwood County and the law enforcement family of Kansas.

[Janet Harrington]

Just to share with you a poem that was written for Sheriff Matt Samuels and used in the funeral program.

IN HONOR OF SHERIFF MATT SAMUELS

A man with a mission
A man with conviction
Making a difference every day

A heart that was bold
But made of pure gold
Bigger than life in most every way

Nothing left but to cry
We just can't say good-bye
Our hope in mankind gone astray

No real justice on earth
For one life-all its worth
If the pain could just all go away

Joy in life just abates us
But our heaven awaits us
Our time on this eath fades away

We must live his example
On the "bad guys" we'll trample
Our hope in the Lord we'll obey

In our hearts we'll endeavor
To remember forever
Sheriff Matt-who's in Heaven today

Written by Angie (Samuels) Wheeler
January 19, 2005

[cheyronni]

Janet is it true that the young man who shot him was his nephew??

[Janet Harrington]

The man who shot Sheriff Samuels was a very distant cousin.