Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective J. Peyton Stewart was shot and killed while investigating two brothers who were loitering near Halifax Street in the city's New Market district. After a brief struggle, Detective Stewart began to arrest one of the brothers. The other suspect then shot and killed Detective Stewart and wounded a bystander. One brother was sentenced to death and executed in May 1928. The other brother was originally sentenced to 15 years, but the sentence was overturned. Detective Stewart had served with the Petersburg Police Department for 20 years.
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- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-75A050F0- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
20 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Stewart gave the Petersburg Bureau of Police 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Stewart.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective J. Peyton Stewart 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 Petersburg Bureau of Police, 5 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. J. Peyton Stewart's cause is highlighted.
How J. Peyton Stewart Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. J. Peyton Stewart is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. J. Peyton Stewart was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Petersburg Bureau of Police are honored on badge.nw.
