John Henry Posenau

Richmond Police Department — Richmond, VA

Veteran → Cardiac

End of Watch November 14, 1952

Age 39

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

The Vigil Panel 88 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 39

Incident

Patrolman John Posenau suffered a fatal heart attack following a struggle with a suspect in the old First Precinct Station near the intersection of Broad Street and Belvidere Street. The suspect was apprehended and put in a patrol wagon when Patrolman Posenau suffered a heart attack. Patrolman Posenau was a United States WWII veteran and had served with the Richmond Police Department for 11 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-5BD5E677
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Posenau gave the Richmond Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— 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 November 14, 1952

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Weapon Person

Military Service

John Henry Posenau served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman John Henry Posenau is one of 1 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In VA, 25 of 655 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 3.8% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Richmond Police Department, 3 of 40 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 7.5% of this agency's fallen.

Richmond Police Department

of 40 officers

7.5% Cardiac

VA — Statewide

of 655 officers

3.8% Cardiac

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Cardiac