August Perault Pierce

Alexandria Police Department — Alexandria, VA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch September 7, 1930

Age 32

Tour of Duty 9 mo

The Vigil Panel 60 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 16

Incident

Private August Pierce was shot and killed by a robbery suspect along the Alexandria-Washington Highway near Four Mile Run. He spotted a 17-year-old juvenile wanted for six robberies in the area and confronted him near the Potomac Yard car barn. A struggle ensued in which the boy drew a .32 caliber handgun and shot Private Pierce multiple times. Despite being mortally wounded, he was able to return fire and fatally wounded the subject. Private Pierce had only served with the Alexandria Police Department for nine months. He was survived by his wife. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-2BB3A058
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.
Private Pierce served with the Alexandria Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Alexandria 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 Alexandria Police Department

Location Alexandria, VA

Platform Identity apd.alexandria.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 7, 1930

Tour of Duty 9 mo

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .32 caliber

Offender Shot and killed

Military Service

August Perault Pierce served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Private August Perault Pierce 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 Alexandria Police Department, 13 of 17 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.5% of this agency's fallen.

Alexandria Police Department

of 17 officers

76.5% Felonious

VA — Statewide

395

of 654 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious