Robert Chapman Osborne
Incident
Officer Robert Chapman Osborne was shot and killed while attempting to search a car for whiskey in Richlands.
As he approached the car, he exchanged shots with one of the occupants. Officer Osborne was struck in the head and killed instantly.
Officer Osborne, who had lost his left arm in a mining accident many years earlier, had served as the county's prohibition officer for 5 years, and had a total of 19 years in law enforcement.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-D4706F40- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- September 9, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Prohibition Officer Osborne gave the Tazewell County Sheriff's Office 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tazewell community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Prohibition Officer Osborne.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Prohibition Officer Robert Chapman Osborne 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 Tazewell County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert Chapman Osborne's cause is highlighted.
How Robert Chapman Osborne Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Chapman Osborne is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Tazewell County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.

