Roll of Honor
Incident
Town Sergeant Robert Pippin was shot and killed in front of the town hall, at the base of the East 5th Street Bridge, at approximately 1:30 am.
His body was located the following morning suffering from two gunshot wounds. Two men were arrested four months later and charged with his murder. One of the men was acquitted and the trial of the second ended in a mistrial. It is not known if he was retried.
Town Sergeant Pippin had served with the Big Stone Gap Police Department for only one week.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and seven children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-C35077EA- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Town Sergeant Pippin served with the Big Stone Gap Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Big Stone Gap community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Town Sergeant Pippin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Town Sergeant Robert Lee Pippin is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In VA, 395 of 654 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Big Stone Gap Police Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert Lee Pippin's cause is highlighted.
How Robert Lee Pippin Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Lee Pippin is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Big Stone Gap Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
