Roll of Honor
Katherine Mary Thyne
Incident
Police Officer Katie Thyne died after being dragged by a vehicle while conducting an investigation.
She and her partner were investigating reports of drug activity when they approached a car along the 1400 block of 16th Street in Newport News. During the investigation, the driver sped off, dragging Police Officer Thyne for a block. The vehicle struck a tree, and Officer Thyne was pinned between the tree and the vehicle door.
Officer Thyne was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.
The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody and charged with felony homicide, evading and eluding, and possession of narcotics. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the narcotics charges in April 2021. He was convicted of second-degree murder and hit-and-run in November 2022.
Officer Thyne was a United States Navy veteran and served with the Newport News Police Department for approximately one year.
She and her partner were investigating reports of drug activity when they approached a car along the 1400 block of 16th Street in Newport News. During the investigation, the driver sped off, dragging Police Officer Thyne for a block. The vehicle struck a tree, and Officer Thyne was pinned between the tree and the vehicle door.
Survivors
She is survived by her 2-year-old daughter, fiancée, mother, three brothers, and grandparents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-95C3A44A- 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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Katherine is one person.
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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.
Police Officer Thyne gave the Newport News Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Newport News community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, sister.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Katherine Mary Thyne served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.
Police Officer Katherine Mary Thyne 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 97,759 officers honored here.
In VA, 394 of 655 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%.
At Newport News Police Department, 7 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Katherine Mary Thyne's cause is highlighted.
How Katherine Mary Thyne Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Katherine Mary Thyne is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Katherine Mary Thyne was killed by automobile.
Incident Location
Military Service
Katherine Mary Thyne served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.
Visit Katherine Mary Thyne’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Newport News Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
