Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Joseph Pratt was shot twice in the abdomen while serving a non-support warrant on a subject on South Saratoga Street at 6:00 p.m. He was transported to a local hospital, where the next morning, he succumbed to his wounds without regaining consciousness. The suspect was apprehended and sentenced to life in prison. He was paroled in the late 1960s. Patrolman Pratt had served with the Suffolk Police Department for 27 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-81188915- 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
27 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Pratt gave the Suffolk Police Department 27 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Suffolk community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Pratt.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Joseph S. Pratt 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 Suffolk Police Department, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph S. Pratt's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph S. Pratt Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph S. Pratt is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph S. Pratt was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Suffolk Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
