Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

Joseph Asbury Dennis Jr.

South Hill Police Department — South Hill, VA

Felonious

End of Watch May 10, 1953

Age 27

Tour of Duty 5 mo

The Vigil Panel 89 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrolman Joseph Dennis was shot and killed after responding to a report that a man had shot and killed his wife at a farmhouse approximately one and a half miles west of town. While he and other officers approached the residence the suspect opened fire with a shotgun, fatally wounding Patrolman Dennis. Other officers stormed the house and fatally wounded the suspect. Patrolman Dennis had only been with the agency for five months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and 2-month-old son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-96D5AF75
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 Dennis served with the South Hill Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the South Hill community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Dennis.

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

Agency

Department South Hill Police Department

Type Police Department

Location South Hill, Mecklenburg County, VA

Platform Identity shpd.mecklenburg.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 10, 1953

Tour of Duty 5 mo

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Patrolman Joseph Asbury Dennis Jr. 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 97,784 officers honored here.

In VA, 395 of 656 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.2% of this state's fallen. That is 60.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

South Hill Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

VA — Statewide

395

of 656 officers

60.2% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,784 officers

0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Asbury Dennis Jr.'s cause is highlighted.

Felonious

1 (0%)

Accident

1 (0%)

Illness

1 (0%)

Cardiac

1 (0%)

Undetermined

1 (0%)

Suicide

1 (0%)

How Joseph Asbury Dennis Jr. Compares

Age at Death

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

0.4

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Asbury Dennis Jr. is highlighted in May.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,516

May

1,504

Jun

1,442

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,517

Sep

1,491

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Asbury Dennis Jr. was killed by shotgun.

Handgun

3,684

Gun

3,592

Gun; Unknown type

1,492

Shotgun

1,109

Rifle

935

Officer's handgun

909

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from South Hill Police Department are honored on badge.nw.