Norfolk Police Department


The Norfolk Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency servicing 242,803 people within of jurisdiction within Norfolk, Virginia.

Misconduct

As a matter of policy, the department does not tell the public what if any disciplinary actions it takes against its officers.
In early 2011, Detective Robert Glenn Ford was sentenced to more than twelve years in prison for taking bribes from criminals. Ford was the detective who questioned the Norfolk 4 who were unjustly imprisoned for twenty years for rape and murder. The men's lawyers said they had been intimidated into confessing by the police.
In January 2014, a woman was mauled by a Norfolk police dog, requiring forty-three stitches. The police chief admitted his officers used excessive force and the city settled for almost $200,000. Four policemen left the department as a result of this attack but were never charged.
On 7 May 2016, Officer Justin Benson was driving at more than seventy miles per hour on city streets when he struck a car, killing its driver. The officer was violating the department's policy on the maximum speed to be used when responding to a call. He was not charged.
In July 2016, the City agreed to pay one and a half million dollars to settle a lawsuit involving a drunk driver who was shot by a policeman. The City did not admit any legal responsibility in the settlement.
In September 2020, police falsified police report to be retaliatory for a past incident with an individual.

Fallen officers

Since the establishment of the Norfolk Police Department, 40 officers have died in the line of duty.
OfficerDate of deathDetails
Officer John McNerneyThursday, September 22, 1904Gunfire
Officer Rufus A. HobbsFriday, July 23, 1909Animal-related
Officer Stonewall J. TaylorTuesday, November 13, 1917Struck by vehicle
Officer Ashville T. WilliamsonThursday, October 31, 1918Gunfire
Officer Harvey J. BabbTuesday, October 21, 1919Motorcycle accident
Officer Harry J. CharltonTuesday, August 24, 1920Assault
Officer William L. SherrodThursday, September 9, 1920Struck by streetcar
Officer Edward J. VellinesWednesday, November 5, 1924Gunfire
Officer Daniel A. WeisbrodThursday, December 6, 1928Gunfire
Officer Joseph E. JohnsonMonday, August 11, 1930Motorcycle accident
Officer Allen E. LindsayTuesday, August 21, 1934Motorcycle accident
Sergeant Benjamin H. ButtsTuesday, January 1, 1935Gunfire
Officer Jefferson R. HollandTuesday, August 17, 1937Motorcycle accident
Officer John Franklin HarmannTuesday, March 29, 1938Gunfire
Officer Arthur Herbert BarrettSaturday, April 9, 1938Heart attack
Officer Michael AloisioTuesday, May 23, 1939Motorcycle accident
Officer Frank A. DavisTuesday, July 13, 1943Gunfire
Officer Robert F. DunnTuesday, July 13, 1943Gunfire
Chief of Police John Fulton WoodsFriday, October 4, 1946Automobile accident
Detective George W. PerkinsThursday, December 12, 1946Automobile accident
Officer Daniel E. HobbsSunday, April 27, 1952Automobile accident
Officer Carlton J. ByrdMonday, August 25, 1952Motorcycle accident
Officer William Warren LassiterThursday, May 1, 1958Struck by vehicle
Officer Louis E. SprySaturday, July 26, 1958Vehicle pursuit
Officer Robert C. HillWednesday, December 9, 1959Automobile accident
Officer Benjamin E. MyrickSaturday, February 13, 1960Motorcycle accident
Detective Robert Courtland WashTuesday, May 16, 1961Gunfire
Officer William PetersonSaturday, March 17, 1962Struck by vehicle
Sergeant Robert J. BouchardFriday, September 3, 1971Gunfire
Officer Lewis Willard Hurst Jr.Wednesday, May 24, 1972Gunfire
Officer Stephen Samuel DourosSaturday, June 21, 1980Vehicular assault
Officer John C. Thomas IIIWednesday, April 4, 1984Motorcycle accident
Officer Douglas Eric DryeSaturday, April 14, 1984Gunfire
Police Officer William Henry BurttTuesday, February 3, 1998Gunfire
Police Officer James B. GilbertFriday, September 28, 2001Gunfire
Police Officer Sheila HerringThursday, January 16, 2003Gunfire
Police Officer Stanley Cornell ReavesFriday, October 28, 2005Gunfire
Police Officer Seneca Bailey DardenSunday, May 21, 2006Gunfire
Police Officer Brian JonesFriday, May 30, 2014Gunfire
Detective Maurice "Mo" JosephWednesday, October 9, 20249/11-related illness