Harry Lankford Charlton
Detective

Harry Lankford Charlton

Norfolk Police Department — Norfolk, VA
Felonious
End of Watch August 24, 1920
Age 23
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
The Vigil Panel 39 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Harry Charlton succumbed to injuries sustained on January 7, 1920, while assisting another officer in making an arrest on Granby Street near Queen Street (modern-day Brambleton Avenue). The other officer was attempting to place a drunken woman he had arrested in a patrol wagon when the woman kicked Detective Charlton in the groin. A large bruise developed causing blood poisoning that ultimately caused his death. Detective Charlton was hospitalized for four months.

Survivors

Detective Charlton was survived by his wife, son, daughter, father, and four siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-3B800B4A
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

You barely got started.
Detective Charlton gave the Norfolk Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Norfolk community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Charlton.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Norfolk, VA
Platform Identity npd.norfolk.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 24, 1920
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Age 23
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Person

Detective Harry Lankford Charlton 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 Norfolk Police Department, 20 of 39 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.3% of this agency's fallen.

Norfolk Police Department
20
of 39 officers
51.3% 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. Harry Lankford Charlton's cause is highlighted.

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

How Harry Lankford Charlton Compares

Age at Death
23
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
1
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Harry Lankford Charlton is highlighted in Aug.

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. Harry Lankford Charlton was killed by person.

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

Incident Location