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Incident
Officer Rufus Hobbs succumbed to injuries sustained on June 24, 1909, when he was thrown from a horse at the intersection of City Hall Avenue and Brewer Street. He was evaluating the horse for use on the Mounted Squad when it became frightened and bolted. He was thrown from the horse as it turned the corner onto Brewer Street. He suffered a serious injury when his head struck a streetcar rail on the roadway. He was hospitalized for a week before being sent home to recover, but his condition worsened and he died on July 23, 1909. Officer Hobbs was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Norfolk Police Department for 20 years.
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. Rufus is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Officer Hobbs gave the Norfolk Police Department 20 years.
Thank you for your service to the Norfolk community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Rufus A. Hobbs served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
Norfolk Police Department has lost 39 officers; 17 of them lost to accidents.
Rufus is one of 203 officers lost to accidents in VA, 31.1% of the 653 remembered there.
Rufus is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Rufus is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1909, 1 officer at Norfolk Police Department was lost to accidents, the 3rd heaviest of 15 years on record. The heaviest was 1946, with 2.
In 1909, 1 officer in VA was lost to accidents, the 55th heaviest of 99 years on record. The heaviest was 1870, with 10.
In 1909, 24 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 119th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1909, 32 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 119th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Rufus was 43. Of the 17 lost to accidents at Norfolk Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 43; the middle age was 31. Rufus had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 10 years.
Rufus was 43. Of the 192 lost to accidents in VA whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 45; the middle age was 36. Rufus had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Rufus was 43. 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. Rufus had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Rufus was 43. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Rufus had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 11.8% of these deaths at Norfolk Police Department; August holds the most, 23.5%. Fridays: 11.8%.
July holds 10.8% of these deaths in VA; December holds the most, 12.8%. Fridays: 16.7%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 15.1%.
July holds 8.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Fridays: 15%.
How
Accident deaths account for 43.6% of all 39 deaths at Norfolk Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 31.1% of all 653 deaths in VA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Norfolk Police Department has 39 officers remembered here, Rufus among them.
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John McNerney
Sep 22, 1904
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Rufus A. Hobbs Jul 23, 1909
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Stonewall Jackson Taylor
Nov 13, 1917
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Ashville T. Williamson Oct 31, 1918
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Harvey J. Babb
Oct 21, 1919
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Harry Lankford Charlton Aug 24, 1920
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William Louis Sherrod
Sep 9, 1920
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Edward J. Vellines
Nov 5, 1924
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Joseph E. Johnson
Aug 11, 1930
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Allen E. Lindsay
Aug 21, 1934
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Benjamin Harrington Butts
Jan 1, 1935
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Jefferson Randolph Holland
Aug 17, 1937
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John Franklin Harmann
Mar 29, 1938
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Arthur Herbert Barrett
Apr 9, 1938
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Michael Aloisio
May 23, 1939
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Franklin Augustus Davis, Sr.
Jul 13, 1943
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Robert F. Dunn
Jul 13, 1943
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John Fulton Woods
Oct 4, 1946
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George Washington Perkins
Dec 12, 1946
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Daniel E. Hobbs
Apr 27, 1952
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Carlton James Byrd
Aug 25, 1952
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William Warren Lassiter
May 1, 1958
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Louis Edward Spry
Jul 26, 1958
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Robert Clifton Hill
Dec 9, 1959
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Benjamin Pope Myrick, Jr.
Feb 13, 1960
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Robert Courtland Wash
May 16, 1961
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William Peterson
Mar 17, 1962
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Robert J. Bouchard
Sep 3, 1971
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Lewis Willard Hurst, Jr.
May 24, 1972
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Stephen Samuel Douros
Jun 21, 1980
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John C. Thomas, III
Apr 4, 1984
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Douglas Eric Drye
Apr 14, 1984
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William Henry Burtt
Feb 3, 1998
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James B. Gilbert
Sep 28, 2001
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Sheila Herring
Jan 16, 2003
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Stanley Cornell Reaves
Oct 28, 2005
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Seneca Bailey Darden
May 21, 2006
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Brian Wayne Jones
May 30, 2014
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Maurice Joseph
Oct 9, 2024
Where
Military Service
Rufus A. Hobbs served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
Visit Rufus A. Hobbs’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 53-E
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
38 officers from Norfolk Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
