Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Lafe Bowen succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained two days earlier when he was shot while attempting to arrest a suspect for public drunkenness' near 1033 Market Street. The man fled to Ohio after the murder where he was arrested after a shootout with Bridgeport, Ohio, officers. He was returned to West Virginia and charged with Patrolman Bowen's murder. The suspect was found guilty of Patrolman Bowen's murder but was only sentenced to 3 years, which he served at the Moundsville Penitentiary. On January 11, 1908, he was shot and killed by a 14 year-old boy when he attempted to burglarize the boys home in Alverton, Pennsylvania.
Survivors
Patrolman Bowen served with the Wheeling Police Department for one year and was survived by his wife and infant child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WV-C9F9B240- 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
You barely got started.
Patrolman Bowen gave the Wheeling Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Wheeling community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Bowen.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Salavia C. Bowen 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 72.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Wheeling Police Department, 5 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Salavia C. Bowen's cause is highlighted.
How Salavia C. Bowen Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Salavia C. Bowen is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Salavia C. Bowen was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from Wheeling Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
