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Incident
Officer Joseph Seay died of injuries sustained in the Virginia Capitol Disaster.
On April 27th, 1870, a balcony collapsed inside of the Virginia State Capitol, killing 62 people, including 12 law enforcement officers.
Following the Civil War, the United States Army installed a mayor in Richmond. In January 1870 Virginia's governor appointed a new city council, which then appointed a new mayor. However, the previous mayor refused to cede the mayorship and the city operated with two mayors and governments, including two separate police departments.
The balcony collapse occurred during a Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals hearing to determine which of the city's two mayors and police departments was considered legitimate. Because of the interest in the case, hundreds of citizens crowded onto the balcony to view the case. The weight of the spectators caused the structure to give way, killing dozens of elected officials, law enforcement officers, and citizens, and injuring hundreds more.
Following what became known as the Capitol Disaster, the court reconvened and ultimately ruled that the newly appointed mayor was the legitimate mayor.
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Tributes
156 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Officer Seay served with the Richmond Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Richmond Police Department has lost 40 officers; 17 of them lost to accidents.
Joseph is one of 203 officers lost to accidents in VA, 31.1% of the 653 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1870, 10 officers at Richmond Police Department were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1870, 10 officers in VA were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1870, 12 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 133rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1870, 22 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 129th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Joseph was 42. Of the 12 lost to accidents at Richmond Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 27.5 and 45; the middle age was 38.
Joseph was 42. Of the 192 lost to accidents in VA whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 45; the middle age was 36.
Joseph was 42. 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.
Joseph was 42. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36.
When
April holds 64.7% of these deaths at Richmond Police Department, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 64.7%.
April holds 8.4% of these deaths in VA; December holds the most, 12.8%. Wednesdays: 15.3%.
April holds 7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
April holds 7% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 42.5% of all 40 deaths at Richmond 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 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Richmond Police Department has 40 officers remembered here, Joseph among them.
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Thomas Kirkham Jul 1, 1869
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Richard O. Busch Mar 20, 1870
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James T. Cox Apr 27, 1870
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James M. Carter Apr 27, 1870
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William R. Cray Apr 27, 1870
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John Kerr Apr 27, 1870
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Michael McCarthy Apr 27, 1870
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John P. Meagher Apr 27, 1870
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Joseph Anderson Seay Apr 27, 1870
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Julius Schultz
Apr 27, 1870
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Donald G. Tourgee Apr 27, 1870
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James M. Walker Apr 27, 1870
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Robert D. Austin
Apr 11, 1898
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John F. Shinberger
Jul 3, 1904
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Gerald M. Harmon
Aug 24, 1919
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Washington Irving Curtis
Aug 21, 1921
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J. Harvey Burke
Jul 28, 1925
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Louis Foster Bertucci
Aug 9, 1925
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Bennie F. Williams
Oct 31, 1931
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William A. Toot
Sep 30, 1934
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Horace C. Parker
Apr 3, 1935
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William A. Moore
Nov 2, 1935
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William Stephen Snead
Feb 5, 1937
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John A. Tibbs
Oct 20, 1940
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Marvin Luther Farmer
Jul 18, 1942
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John Henry Posenau
Nov 14, 1952
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Clifton Hawes White
Aug 19, 1954
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James W. Crowder
Sep 5, 1957
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Luther K. Nuckols
Dec 8, 1962
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Raymond B. Smith
Oct 13, 1968
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David A. Cooper
Feb 10, 1970
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Harry Charlton, III
Jun 25, 1971
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Vernon Leigh Jarrelle, Jr.
Aug 1, 1973
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Leaward Robert Rich
Dec 13, 1974
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Edwin Hugh Stephenson, Jr.
Dec 13, 1974
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E. Allen Wakefield
Sep 27, 1975
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Michael P. Connors
Nov 13, 1979
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George Ronald Taylor
Jun 15, 1986
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Thomas Francis McMahon
Oct 14, 1998
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Douglas Edward Wendel
Jul 30, 2003
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 39-E
Others Who Wore This Badge
39 officers from Richmond Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
