Archer Thomas Belcher
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Archer Thomas Belcher

Felonious
End of Watch February 17, 1912
Age 47
The Vigil Panel 26 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Archer Belcher succumbed to injuries inflicted one month earlier when he was beaten by three inmates while overseeing a work crew of the Virginia State Convict Road Force in Chesterfield County.

He was taken to Petersburg Hospital where he remained until succumbing to the injuries.

One of the subjects was shot and killed during his arrest. The other two were convicted of his murder and sentenced to death. They were both executed by electrocution on June 14th, 1912.

Deputy Belcher served with the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office and supervised a state prison crew as part of an agreement between the county and state.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and ten children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-9F30BFBF
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Belcher served with the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Chesterfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Belcher.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Chesterfield, VA
Platform Identity ccso.stafford.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 17, 1912
Age 47
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Assault
Weapon Blunt object

Deputy Sheriff Archer Thomas Belcher 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 97,772 officers honored here.

In VA, 394 of 656 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.1% of this state's fallen. That is 60.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
VA — Statewide
394
of 656 officers
60.1% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Archer Thomas Belcher's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Archer Thomas Belcher Compares

Age at Death
47
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Archer Thomas Belcher is highlighted in Feb.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Archer Thomas Belcher was killed by blunt object.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.