Roll of Honor
Hilton Edward Bland
Incident
Correctional Officer Edward Bland was beaten to death by by an inmate at the Virginia State Penitentiary. The inmate was able to get control of Officer Bland's gas gun and beat him with it. Officer Bland never regained consciousness before passing away as a result of his injuries three days later. On January 20, 1967, the inmate, 32, was tried and acquitted. Two inmates testified Officer Bland hit the inmate with a gas gun before he was attacked. The prosecution failed to show what led up to the incident. The inmate was serving a life sentence he was given in 1952 for two counts of robbery and malicious shooting.
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- 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.
Correctional Officer Bland served with the Virginia Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Virginia. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Bland.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Correctional Officer Hilton Edward Bland 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 Virginia Department of Corrections, 8 of 16 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Hilton Edward Bland's cause is highlighted.
How Hilton Edward Bland Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Hilton Edward Bland is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Hilton Edward Bland was killed by person.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
15 officers from Virginia Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.
