Powhatan Dance Bass

Virginia Department of Corrections — Richmond, VA

Veteran → Accident

End of Watch June 16, 1936

Age 54

The Vigil Panel 71 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 15

Incident

Guard Powhatan Bass was accidentally shot and killed by other guards who were firing a machine gun at a truck carrying eight escaping convicts from the Virginia State Penitentiary in Richmond, Virginia.

During an escape attempt, the eight convicts suddenly attacked Guard Bass and another guard in the prison yard. They tied them up and put them in the back of a nearby truck. The eight prisoners then got into the truck and sped towards the prison gate.

The gate guards, not knowing that two guards were held hostage inside the truck, opened fire. Five of the convicts were shot and wounded. Guard Bass was mortally wounded and the other guard was wounded. The convicts were all taken into custody and charged with murder in connection with Guard Bass' death.

Guard Bass was a Spanish-American War veteran.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-21D524FB
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Powhatan. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw. One record, 2 gates. Powhatan is one person.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

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.
Guard Bass served with the Virginia Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Virginia. 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 Department of Corrections

Type Corrections

Location Richmond, VA

Platform Identity vdcorr.richmond.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 16, 1936

Age 54

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

Powhatan Dance Bass served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Guard Powhatan Dance Bass is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In VA, 204 of 655 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.1% of this state's fallen. That is 31.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Virginia Department of Corrections, 5 of 16 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.3% of this agency's fallen.

Virginia Department of Corrections

of 16 officers

31.3% Accident

VA — Statewide

204

of 655 officers

31.1% Accident

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Accident