Douglas Eric Drye

Norfolk Police Dept. — Norfolk, VA

Felonious

End of Watch April 14, 1984

Age 26

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 128 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 38

Incident

Officer Douglas Drye was shot and killed by a sniper while responding to a shots fired call at 1065 Green Street at 12:15 am. When he and another officer arrived, they discovered a woman who had been shot inside a car parked in front of a home. As they tried to render aid to the woman, a man inside the home shot Officer Drye with an M-1 rifle. The other officer and two citizens pulled Officer Drye across the street behind cover, but he succumbed to his wounds before he could be taken to a hospital. The subject was shot and killed during an ensuing standoff. Officer Drye had served with the Norfolk Police Department for two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, and parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-59F2CAEA
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.
Officer Drye gave the Norfolk Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Norfolk community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Drye.

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

Agency

Department Norfolk Police Dept.

Location Norfolk, VA

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

Service Record

End of Watch April 14, 1984

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; M-1

Offender Shot and killed

Officer Douglas Eric Drye 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 Norfolk Police Dept., 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 Dept.

of 39 officers

51.3% Felonious

VA — Statewide

395

of 654 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious