William Harvey Austin

Portsmouth Police Department — Portsmouth, VA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch June 18, 1969

Age 26

The Vigil Panel 105 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 9

Incident

Patrolman Austin was shot and killed while attempting to apprehend an armed robbery suspect at the Dixie Drive-In on High Street and Mount Vernon Avenue. Patrolman Austin, off duty and out of uniform, was drinking a glass of milk at the bar when he noticed a man holding a gun on the manager a few feet away. He grabbed the suspect from behind and tried to disarm him when he suddenly broke free and shot Patrolman Austin three times. He ran out the drive-in with $200.00 taken from the manager. He was apprehended by Portsmouth Police a few minutes later. Patrolman Austin was transported to a hospital where he died. On December 5, 1969, suspect, 25, was convicted of murder, armed robbery, and sentenced to life. He had been paroled on January 10, 1969, after serving 26 months of a 10 year sentence for bank robbery. As of February 22, 1988, he was still in prison. Patrolman Austin was survived by his expectant wife. He was a Vietnam War Veteran.

Survivors

Patrolman Austin was survived by his expectant wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-8592B31F
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.
Motorcycle Patrolman Austin served with the Portsmouth Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth Police Department

Location Portsmouth, VA

Platform Identity ppd.portsmouth.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 18, 1969

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Pistol

Offender Sentenced to life

Military Service

William Harvey Austin served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Motorcycle Patrolman William Harvey Austin 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 Portsmouth Police Department, 6 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Portsmouth Police Department

of 10 officers

60% Felonious

VA — Statewide

395

of 654 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious