Joseph M. Drake

Seaboard Air Line Railroad Police Department — Norfolk, VA

Felonious

End of Watch September 23, 1932

Age 50

The Vigil Panel 65 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

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: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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

Department Seaboard Air Line Railroad Police Department

Location Norfolk, VA

Platform Identity salrpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 23, 1932

Age 50

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentenced to 30 years

Special Agent Joseph M. Drake is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In VA, 395 of 654 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

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.

Seaboard Air Line Railroad Police Department

of 4 officers

75% Felonious

VA — Statewide

395

of 654 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious