Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Clarence Small and Patrolman Courtney Cook were killed in an automobile crash in the 4600 block of Jefferson Avenue while en route to raid an illegal gambling house. Their patrol car was struck by another patrol car that was responding to an unrelated call at 2:40 a.m. Patrolman Small was the first black officer hired by the Newport News Police Department. Patrolman Small was a U.S. Navy Veteran of WWII and served with the Newport News Police Department for 15 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-192EFA60- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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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.
Patrolman Small gave the Newport News Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Newport News 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
Clarence Eugene Small served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Clarence Eugene Small is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In VA, 203 of 654 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31% of this state's fallen.
At Newport News Police Department, 5 of 12 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 41.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Clarence Eugene Small's cause is highlighted.
How Clarence Eugene Small Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Clarence Eugene Small is highlighted in Jun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Newport News Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
