David W. Carpenter

Portsmouth Police Department — Portsmouth, VA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch February 7, 1967

Age 22

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 102 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 9

Incident

Patrolman Carpenter was killed when he was struck by a stolen vehicle while attempting to set up a roadblock on the I-264 off-ramp at Belmont Avenue. He and another officer had set up their patrol cars to block the exit ramp, but to allow enough space for the car to come through. The vehicle began to slow down, but the driver accelerated as Patrolman Carpenter came through the opening between the patrol cars. Patrolman Carpenter was struck and knocked 75-feet then was run over by the vehicle. The 18-year-old driver of the vehicle was eventually apprehended and charged with murder, hit-and-run, vehicle larceny, and driving without a license. A judge issued an order which had him committed to the Central State Hospital for a mental evaluation. Patrolman Carpenter had been with the Portsmouth Police Department for one year and had been a military policeman for the three prior years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-89D589D5
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 Carpenter gave the Portsmouth Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth Police Department

Location Portsmouth, VA

Platform Identity ppd.portsmouth.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 7, 1967

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 22

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile

Offender Apprehended

Military Service

David W. Carpenter served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman David W. Carpenter is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In VA, 395 of 654 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Portsmouth Police Department, 6 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Portsmouth Police Department

of 10 officers

60% Felonious

VA — Statewide

395

of 654 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious