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Patrolman

Wayne Byron Stoutamyer

Bridgewater Police Department — Bridgewater, VA

Felonious

End of Watch May 25, 1976

Age 25

Tour of Duty 3 yrs 5 mo

Badge 3

The Vigil Panel 117 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrolman Wayne Stoutamyer was shot and killed when he was ambushed outside of his house on Broad Street by a man he had arrested for drunk driving two weeks earlier. Although being shot with two slugs from a 12-gauge shotgun, Patrolman Stoutamyer was able to return fire and wounded the suspect. The man was convicted of Patrolman Stoutamyer's murder and sent to prison. He was paroled after serving only 15 years. Patrolman Stoutamyer had served with the Bridgewater Police Department for 3.5 years and also served as the chief of the Bridgewater Volunteer Fire Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his fiancee, parents, and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-3821835E
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.
Patrolman Stoutamyer gave the Bridgewater Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Bridgewater community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Stoutamyer.

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

Agency

Department Bridgewater Police Department

Location Bridgewater, VA

Platform Identity bpd.rockingham.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 25, 1976

Tour of Duty 3 yrs 5 mo

Age 25

Badge Number 3

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Paroled after 15 years

Patrolman Wayne Byron Stoutamyer 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%.

Bridgewater 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. Wayne Byron Stoutamyer'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 Wayne Byron Stoutamyer Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

3.4

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Paroled after 15 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Wayne Byron Stoutamyer is highlighted in May.

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. Wayne Byron Stoutamyer was killed by shotgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518