Roll of Honor
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
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John Henry Posenau served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman John Henry Posenau is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In VA, 25 of 654 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 3.8% of this state's fallen.
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.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Henry Posenau's cause is highlighted.
How John Henry Posenau Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. John Henry Posenau is highlighted in Nov.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
39 officers from Richmond Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
