William Henry Burtt

Norfolk Police Department — Norfolk, VA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch February 3, 1998

Age 40

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

The Vigil Panel 144 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 38

Incident

Police Officer William Burtt was shot and killed in Virginia Beach as he was attempting to protect a woman from being kidnapped while off duty. Officer Burtt had befriended the woman who worked in his patrol district and was escorting her to run errands when her estranged husband attempted to kidnap her. Officer Burtt exited his van and attempted to draw his weapon when the suspect opened fire on him, striking him several times. The suspect then stole the van but surrendered two days later. Officer Burtt's actions prevented the suspect from murdering his wife. The suspect was convicted of murder and several other charges in connection with Officer Burtt's murder. Officer Burtt had served with the Norfolk Police Department for nine years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-37619149
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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. William is one person.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Burtt gave the Norfolk Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Norfolk community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Burtt.

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

Agency

Department Norfolk Police Department

Type Other

Location Norfolk, VA

Platform Identity npd.norfolk.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 3, 1998

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 40

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

William Henry Burtt served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1975â1979) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Police Officer William Henry Burtt 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 97,784 officers honored here.

In VA, 395 of 656 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.2% of this state's fallen. That is 60.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Norfolk Police Department, 20 of 39 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.3% of this agency's fallen.

Norfolk Police Department

of 39 officers

51.3% Felonious

VA — Statewide

395

of 656 officers

60.2% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,784 officers

0% Felonious