Dabney Slayden

Virginia State Convict Road Force — Richmond, VA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch December 4, 1970

Age 61

The Vigil Panel 107 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Also Remembered Department 8

Incident

Guard Dabney Slayden was shot and killed by former inmates of Convict Camp 13, on Courthouse Road in Chesterfield County, during a robbery attempt.

Guard Slayden, who lived in a cottage on the grounds of the prison camp, was found suffering six gunshot wounds just outside the door of his cottage. It was later determined that several former inmates who were familiar with Guard Slayden had gone to the cottage with the intention of robbing him. He was shot as he put up a struggle in an effort to resist the robbery.

Three men were arrested and charged with Guard Slayden's murder. One subjecct, 30, was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. The remaining two, 21 and 23, were convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 20 years each.

Guard Slayden was an employee of the Virginia Department of Highways and had been deputized as a guard on the Virginia State Convict Road Force. He was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-6B59537E
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: September 9, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Dabney 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.
Guard Slayden served with the Virginia State Convict Road Force.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond 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

Department Virginia State Convict Road Force

Type Other

Location Richmond, VA

Platform Identity vscrf.richmond.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 4, 1970

Age 61

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .22 caliber

Military Service

Dabney Slayden served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Guard Dabney Slayden is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,787 officers honored here.

In VA, 395 of 656 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.2% of this state's fallen. That is 60.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Virginia State Convict Road Force, 5 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.6% of this agency's fallen.

Virginia State Convict Road Force

of 9 officers

55.6% Felonious

VA — Statewide

395

of 656 officers

60.2% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,787 officers

0% Felonious