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Officer

Stuart Jackson Edwards

Emporia Police Department — Emporia, VA

Felonious

End of Watch October 27, 1956

Age 25

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 92 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Officer Stuart Edwards was shot and killed after he stopped a vehicle for having a loud muffler. As he and another officer attempted to arrest one of the occupants they were attacked by the others. One of the men was able to gain control of one of the officers' service revolvers and opened fire. During the ensuing shootout, Officer Edwards and the subject were killed and two other officers were wounded. The other three subjects were charged with murder and felonious assault. Officer Edwards had served with the Emporia Police Department for four years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-03AFADE4
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.
Officer Edwards gave the Emporia Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Emporia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Edwards.

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

Agency

Department Emporia Police Department

Location Emporia, VA

Platform Identity epd.emporia.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 27, 1956

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 25

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender One shot and killed

Officer Stuart Jackson Edwards 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%.

Emporia Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

VA — Statewide

395

of 654 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Stuart Jackson Edwards's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Stuart Jackson Edwards Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

One shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Stuart Jackson Edwards is highlighted in Oct.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Stuart Jackson Edwards was killed by officer's handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518