Roll of Honor
His Life
Sergeant Melvin Shelton suffered a fatal heart attack while working a traffic detail at approximately 3:25 pm.
After beginning to feel ill he hitched a ride to Norfolk Street where the police chief was also working a traffic detail. When he got out of the car he suddenly collapsed. The chief took him to Richlands Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Sergeant Shelton had served with the Richlands Police Department for eight years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, mother, and four siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-1EAFEB42- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Shelton gave the Richlands Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Richlands community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Shelton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
His Life Details
Sergeant Melvin S. Shelton is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,586 officers honored here.
In VA, 25 of 654 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 3.8% of this state's fallen.
At Richlands Police Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Melvin S. Shelton's cause is highlighted.
How Melvin S. Shelton Compares
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. Melvin S. Shelton is highlighted in Dec.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Richlands Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
