Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: Virginia Incident Date: Monday, September 19, 1932 Weapon: Handgun Offender: Sentenced to 30 years
Special Agent Joseph Drake succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained four days earlier in the Seaboard Air Line Railroad's Portsmouth Shops yard in Portsmouth, Virginia.
He had caught two men trespassing earlier in the morning and told them to leave the yard. Special Agent Drake had continued his patrols and was talking to another employee on the western edge of the yard near its interchange with the Belt Line Railroad. One of the men who had been caught trespassing earlier approached the two and shot Special Agent Drake multiple times. The man then stole Special Agent Drake's service pistol and fled the area.
The man was arrested in November 1932 and charged with murder. He was convicted during his fourth trial and sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Special Agent Drake had served with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad for several years and had previously served with the Portsmouth Police Department.
Survivors
He was a widower and was survived by his daughter, sister, and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-2568F7A1- 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.
Special Agent Drake served with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Norfolk community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Drake.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Agent Joseph M. Drake 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 Seaboard Air Line Railroad Police Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph M. Drake's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph M. Drake Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph M. Drake is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph M. Drake was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Seaboard Air Line Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
