Roll of Honor

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Chief of Police

Ruben Wallen

St. Charles Police Department — St. Charles, VA

Felonious

End of Watch August 16, 1936

Age 46

The Vigil Panel 72 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Chief Wallen was shot and killed when he attempted to arrest a coal mine worker for carrying a pistol in town shortly after midnight. The suspect immediately opened fire on Chief Wallen. The chief was struck three times and killed instantly.

Two men who were with the chief took the suspect and his acquaintance into custody at the scene. On October 2, 1936, the gunman was found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to 21 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-21F99B6E
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.
Chief of Police Wallen served with the St. Charles Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the St. Charles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Wallen.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department St. Charles Police Department

Type Police Department

Location St. Charles, VA

Platform Identity scpd.lee.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 16, 1936

Age 46

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber

Chief of Police Ruben Wallen 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%.

St. Charles Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

VA — Statewide

394

of 656 officers

60.1% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ruben Wallen's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

1 (0%)

Accident

1 (0%)

Illness

1 (0%)

Cardiac

1 (0%)

Undetermined

1 (0%)

Suicide

1 (0%)

How Ruben Wallen Compares

Age at Death

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ruben Wallen is highlighted in Aug.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,516

May

1,504

Jun

1,442

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,517

Sep

1,491

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ruben Wallen was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.

Handgun

3,684

Gun

3,592

Gun; Unknown type

1,492

Shotgun

1,109

Rifle

935

Officer's handgun

909

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from St. Charles Police Department are honored on badge.nw.