Walter R. McClintock
Agency patch
Chief of Police

Walter R. McClintock

Wytheville Police Department — Wytheville, VA
Felonious
End of Watch December 19, 1908
Age 39
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
The Vigil Panel 23 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief McClintock was shot and killed when he and other officers attempted to arrest two brothers on robbery charges.

The officers approached the brothers on Main Street, in front of the Wythe County Courthouse, and informed them they had warrants for their arrest. One of the brothers immediately produced a handgun and opened fire, striking Chief McClintock.

Despite being mortally wounded, Chief McClintock was able to return fire and killed the suspect. The other brother was taken into custody. The surviving brother was convicted of Chief McClintock's murder and sentenced to 16 years in prison.

117 Years after your line of duty death the Wytheville Police Department and the Citizens of Wytheville Virginia pay tribute to your ultimate sacrifice.

Chief McClintock, you are not forgotten.

Deputy Chief Bryan Bard Wytheville Police Department Wytheville Virginia December 19th, 2025

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-B42BE4F0
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.
Chief of Police McClintock gave the Wytheville Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Wytheville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police McClintock.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Wytheville, Wythe County, VA
Platform Identity wpd.wythe.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 19, 1908
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

Chief of Police Walter R. McClintock 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%.

At Wytheville Police Department, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Wytheville Police Department
1
of 3 officers
33.3% Felonious
VA — Statewide
394
of 656 officers
60.1% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Walter R. McClintock's cause is highlighted.

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

How Walter R. McClintock Compares

Age at Death
39
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
1
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Walter R. McClintock is highlighted in Dec.

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. Walter R. McClintock was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Wytheville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.