Roll of Honor

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Detective

Michael Smith Phillips

Virginia Beach Police Department — Virginia Beach, VA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch August 7, 2008

Age 37

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

The Vigil Panel 157 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 11

Incident

Detective Michael Phillips was shot and killed while conducting an undercover buy-bust narcotics operation in the Green Run Shopping Center at 3312 Holland Road in Virginia Beach.

During an arranged meet, Detective Phillips met with two suspects. While Detective Phillips spoke with one of the suspects, the second suspect approached and opened fire, striking the officer multiple times. The team of investigative officers were able to detain both suspects. Detective Phillips died on the scene from the gunshot wounds.

Both men were charged with murder. One of the subjects pleaded guilty to murder in December 2010 and was sentenced to life in prison. The second suspect was convicted of murder in October 2011 and subsequently sentenced to 68 years in prison.

Detective Phillips was a United States Air Force Desert Storm veteran who had served with the Virginia Beach Police Department for six years and previously served with the Hampton Police Department for three years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-17CA93B5
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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Also honored at salute.nw. One record, 2 gates. Michael 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.
Detective Phillips gave the Virginia Beach Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Virginia Beach community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Virginia Beach Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Virginia Beach, VA

Platform Identity vbpd.virginiabeach.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 7, 2008

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Military Service

Michael Smith Phillips served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Detective Michael Smith Phillips 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 97,756 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 Virginia Beach Police Department, 6 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Virginia Beach Police Department

of 12 officers

50% Felonious

VA — Statewide

394

of 655 officers

60.2% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,756 officers

0% Felonious