William E. Brinkley

Suffolk Police Department — Suffolk, VA

Felonious

End of Watch December 2, 1918

Age 49

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

The Vigil Panel 36 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Chief of Police William Brinkley was shot and killed as he attempted to arrest a man wanted in another state. Chief Brinkley had received a telegram notifying him that the escaped convict would be arriving at the Suffolk train station with illegal liquor. Chief Brinkley and another officer went to the station to arrest the man. They were standing in the station doorway when the suspect exited the train. The suspect saw the officers and immediately opened fire, striking Chief Brinkley in the abdomen. The suspect was shot and killed while exchanging shots with the other officer, who was taking cover behind a train wheel. Chief Brinkley was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds two days later. The other officer involved in the shootout, Patrolman Joseph S. Pratt, was shot and killed in the line of duty on October 20, 1935. Chief Brinkley had been with the Suffolk Police Department for 18 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, a son, and a daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-90247E58
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.
Chief of Police Brinkley gave the Suffolk Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Suffolk community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Brinkley.

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

Agency

Department Suffolk Police Department

Location Suffolk, VA

Platform Identity spd.suffolk.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 2, 1918

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

Age 49

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Chief of Police William E. Brinkley 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%.

At Suffolk Police Department, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Suffolk Police Department

of 5 officers

60% Felonious

VA — Statewide

395

of 654 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious