Roll of Honor
Philip Michael Pennington
Incident
Police Officer Philip Pennington was shot and killed on Thanksgiving Day after he and other officers responded to the home of a man who had ambushed and shot an Arlington County sheriff's deputy the previous day. He and his fellow SWAT officers were called to the home in the 14700 block of Dodson Drive, in Dale City, where the suspect had fled after shooting the deputy. When the team entered the home they were confronted by the man holding a pistol. Officer Pennington tried to talk the suspect into putting down the pistol but the man retreated into another portion of the house, grabbed a rifle, and opened fire. Officer Pennington was struck once in the head, with the bullet penetrating his helmet. The subject was shot and killed by other members of the SWAT team. Officer Pennington had been shot and wounded in an unrelated drug raid 11 months earlier. Officer Pennington had served with the Prince William County Police Department for 11 years. He is survived by his wife and son. Five years after the shooting, his wife was sworn in as a Prince William County police officer. Philip Michael Pennington Elementary School in Manassas is named for the fallen officer.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-01A2FFFE- 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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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Pennington gave the Prince William County Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Prince William community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Pennington.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Philip Michael Pennington 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 97,772 officers honored here.
In VA, 394 of 656 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.1% of this state's fallen. That is 60.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Prince William County Police Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Philip Michael Pennington's cause is highlighted.
How Philip Michael Pennington Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Philip Michael Pennington is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Philip Michael Pennington was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Prince William County Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
