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Deputy Sheriff

Frankie Lynn Betterton

Pittsylvania Cnty Sheriff's Office — Chatham, VA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch May 17, 2002

Age 43

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 149 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 7

Incident

Deputy Frankie Betterton was shot and killed while making a traffic stop on US Highway 58 near Danville, Virginia, at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Deputy Betterton had two vehicles pulled over at this traffic stop. One vehicle was being driven by a male, and the other vehicle was driven by his girlfriend. After letting the girlfriend go, Deputy Betterton had the male sit in his patrol car.

The male, who was seated in the passenger seat, produced a .380 caliber handgun and shot Deputy Betterton once in the head. The male fled the scene but was apprehended the following morning at approximately 5:30 a.m. The male was charged and convicted of capital murder, and the jury recommended the death penalty, but the judge instead sentenced the male to life in prison.

Deputy Betterton had been employed with the Pittsylvania County Sheriff's Office for three years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-68FA27CF
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Frankie. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. Frankie is one person.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Betterton gave the Pittsylvania County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chatham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Betterton.

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

Agency

Department Pittsylvania Cnty Sheriff's Office

Type Sheriff's Office

Location Chatham, VA

Platform Identity pittso.pittsylvania.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 17, 2002

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun; .380 caliber

Military Service

Frankie Lynn Betterton served in the U.S. Air Force (1982â1983) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Deputy Sheriff Frankie Lynn Betterton 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%.

At Pittsylvania Cnty Sheriff's Office, 5 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.

Pittsylvania Cnty Sheriff's Office

of 8 officers

62.5% Felonious

VA — Statewide

394

of 656 officers

60.1% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious