Victor Woodhead

Rochester Police Department — Rochester, NY

Felonious

End of Watch November 17, 1932

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

The Vigil Panel 65 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 16

Incident

Detective Victor Woodhead was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect wanted for robbing the Rochester Chamber of Commerce. He and another detective, along with two employees of the Chamber of Commerce, had been waiting in a hotel to positively identify the suspect. When the suspect came down from his room the detectives started to follow him. The suspect walked to a garage on Stillson Street and got into a car. Detective Woodhead attempted to talk to him but the man suddenly exited the car and opened fire, mortally wounding him. The man was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. On March 1st, 1952, his sentence was commuted to 35 years to life with eligibility for parole in 1958.

Survivors

Detective Woodhead was survived by his wife, daughter, two brothers, and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-A897F1B4
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.
Detective Woodhead gave the Rochester Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Rochester community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Woodhead.

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

Agency

Department Rochester Police Department

Location Rochester, NY

Platform Identity rpd.monroe.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 17, 1932

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to life

Detective Victor Woodhead 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 NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Rochester Police Department, 9 of 17 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 52.9% of this agency's fallen.

Rochester Police Department

of 17 officers

52.9% Felonious

NY — Statewide

754

of 2,147 officers

35.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious