Roll of Honor
Prev Next
Thadeus E. Davis
Agency patch
Chief of Police

Thadeus E. Davis

Smithfield Police Department — Smithfield, VA
Accident
United States flag Virginia flag
End of Watch May 16, 1902
Age 39
The Vigil Panel 17 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Chief of Police Thadeus E. Davis succumbed to an accidental gunshot wound sustained earlier when his gun fell from his pocket and discharged; the round striking him in the hip.

He had just arrested a man wanted for murder in Isle of Wight County and was walking him to the jail when the accident occurred.

He was transported to St. Vincent's Hospital in Norfolk, where he succumbed to the wound two days later.

Chief Davis was a member of the Smithfield military company.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-E80D5675
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Thadeus. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Davis served with the Smithfield Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Smithfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Davis.

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

Agency

Department Smithfield Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Smithfield, Isle of Wight County, VA
Platform Identity spd.isleofwight.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 16, 1902
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Cause Detail Gunfire (Inadvertent)

Chief of Police Thadeus E. Davis is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In VA, 204 of 656 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.1% of this state's fallen. That is 31.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Smithfield Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Accident
VA — Statewide
204
of 656 officers
31.1% Accident
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thadeus E. Davis's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Thadeus E. Davis Compares

Age at Death
39
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Thadeus E. Davis is highlighted in May.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
708
May
848
Jun
797
Jul
899
Aug
938
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Smithfield Police Department are honored on badge.nw.