Gavin Richard Carlton
Agency patch
Police Constable

Gavin Richard Carlton

West Midlands Police — Birmingham, ENG
Felonious
End of Watch December 19, 1988
Age 29
The Vigil Panel 213 ›
Gender Male

Incident

While pursuing two armed robbers, who had just held up the Tile Hill village branch of the Midland Bank on Torrington Avenue, Coventry, PC Carlton’s patrol car was shot at, causing it to crash and become lodged on a bollard.

With his police car stuck, the gunmen approached Gavin and one of them shot the officer at point blank range.

Posthumously awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-GB-WMP-A25D98E1
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.
Police Constable Carlton served with the West Midlands Police.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Constable Carlton.

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

Agency

Type State Police
Location Birmingham, ENG
Platform Identity wmpd.bir.eng.gb.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 19, 1988
Age 29
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Homicide - Shot

Police Constable Gavin Richard Carlton 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 ENG, 702 of 2,827 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 24.8% of this state's fallen. That is 24.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At West Midlands Police, 4 of 46 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 8.7% of this agency's fallen.

West Midlands Police
4
of 46 officers
8.7% Felonious
ENG — Statewide
702
of 2,827 officers
24.8% 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. Gavin Richard Carlton's cause is highlighted.

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

How Gavin Richard Carlton Compares

Age at Death
29
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gavin Richard Carlton is highlighted in Dec.

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.

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