Robert Elvin Caldwell

Virginia State Police — North Chesterfield, VA

Veteran → Accident

End of Watch June 17, 1948

Age 25

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 84 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 51

Incident

Trooper Robert Caldwell was killed in an automobile crash at the intersection of 39th Street and Chestnut Avenue in Newport News while in pursuit of a traffic violator at 10:34 pm. Another vehicle pulled out of a service station and into Trooper Caldwell's path, causing a collision. Trooper Caldwell's partner was seriously injured in the accident, and two occupants of the other vehicle were also killed. Trooper Caldwell was a United States Army WWII veteran and had served with the Virginia State Police for 18 months.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents and fiancee.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-72A87CB9
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 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.
Trooper Caldwell gave the Virginia State Police 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the people of Virginia, and 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 State Police

Type State Police

Location North Chesterfield, VA

Platform Identity vsp.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 17, 1948

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo

Age 25

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

Robert Elvin Caldwell served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Trooper Robert Elvin Caldwell 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 State Police, 32 of 52 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 61.5% of this agency's fallen.

Virginia State Police

of 52 officers

61.5% Accident

VA — Statewide

204

of 655 officers

31.1% Accident

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Accident