Corporal Samuel Cheatham suffered a fatal heart attack while on sick leave at home due to a previous heart attack. He suffered his oriignal heart attack on May 4, 1959 while struggling with a suspect who was resisting arrest. He suffered a second heart attack while he was recovering at home.

Corporal Cheatham had served with the police department for 29 years. He was assigned to the Carondelet District after spending the first half of his career in the motorcycle unit. He was a WWII veteran and was survived by his wife, Helen. Interred: Sunset Memorial Park, Affton, MO.