Cecil Bernis Bays

Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources — Henrico, VA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch November 27, 1952

Age 30

The Vigil Panel 88 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 10

Incident

Game Warden Cecil Bays was shot and killed in Pound, Wise County, on Thanksgiving night by one of two men who had yelled at him earlier in the evening. The initial encounter and shooting were both unprovoked. The subject was shot and killed a short time later by a Norton policeman. The other subject pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to five years in prison. He was paroled after serving only three years. Game Warden Bays was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of WWII.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-1EC9144C
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Game Warden Bays served with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
Thank you for your service to the Henrico community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

Location Henrico, VA

Platform Identity vdwrcons.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 27, 1952

Age 30

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber

Offender Sentenced to 5 years

Military Service

Cecil Bernis Bays served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Game Warden Cecil Bernis Bays 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 Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, 7 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.6% of this agency's fallen.

Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

of 11 officers

63.6% Felonious

VA — Statewide

395

of 654 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious