Robert J. Bouchard

Norfolk Police Department — Norfolk, VA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch September 3, 1971

Age 39

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

The Vigil Panel 109 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 38

Incident

Sergeant Robert Bouchard was shot and killed by a robbery suspect while conducting a stakeout behind a group of buildings at the corner of Princess Anne Road and Colonial Avenue. The juvenile offender was apprehended and convicted of Sergeant Bouchard's murder. The suspect was sentenced to death in 1972, but his sentence was commuted to life in prison when capital punishment was ruled temporarily unconstitutional nationwide. The suspect was released after serving only 14 years. Sergeant Bouchard was a United States Navy veteran. He had served with the Norfolk Police Department for 18 years and was assigned to the Special Services Unit.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-C2662F49
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 Robert. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Robert 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.
Sergeant Bouchard gave the Norfolk Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Norfolk community, 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 Norfolk Police Department

Type Other

Location Norfolk, VA

Platform Identity npd.norfolk.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 3, 1971

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Military Service

Robert J. Bouchard served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Sergeant Robert J. Bouchard 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 97,759 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 Norfolk Police Department, 20 of 39 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.3% of this agency's fallen.

Norfolk Police Department

of 39 officers

51.3% Felonious

VA — Statewide

394

of 655 officers

60.2% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious