Harry Charlton III

Richmond Police Department — Richmond, VA

Felonious

End of Watch June 25, 1971

Age 27

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

The Vigil Panel 108 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 39

Incident

Patrolman Harry Charlton was shot and killed while making a traffic stop at Ninth Street and Commerce Road. During the stop, the driver suddenly produced a handgun and shot Patrolman Charlton in the chest. The suspect was later arrested and convicted of murder. Prior to the murder, he had boasted to friends that he was going to murder a police officer. The suspect was released from prison in 2005 due to a terminal illness and died several weeks later. Patrolman Charlton had been employed with the Richmond Police Department for 9 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-E513E63B
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.
Patrolman Charlton gave the Richmond Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Charlton.

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

Agency

Department Richmond Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Richmond, VA

Platform Identity rpd.richmond.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 25, 1971

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Patrolman Harry Charlton III 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 Richmond Police Department, 20 of 40 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Richmond Police Department

of 40 officers

50% Felonious

VA — Statewide

394

of 656 officers

60.1% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious