Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

Joseph Asbury Dennis, Jr.

South Hill Police Department — South Hill, VA

Felonious

End of Watch May 10, 1953

Age 27

Tour of Duty 5 mo

The Vigil Panel 89 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrolman Joseph Dennis was shot and killed after responding to a report that a man had shot and killed his wife at a farmhouse approximately one and a half miles west of town. While he and other officers approached the residence the suspect opened fire with a shotgun, fatally wounding Patrolman Dennis. Other officers stormed the house and fatally wounded the suspect. Patrolman Dennis had only been with the agency for five months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and 2-month-old son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-96D5AF75
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.
Patrolman Dennis served with the South Hill Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the South Hill community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Dennis.

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

Agency

Department South Hill Police Department

Location South Hill, VA

Platform Identity shpd.mecklenburg.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 10, 1953

Tour of Duty 5 mo

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Shot and killed

Patrolman Joseph Asbury Dennis, Jr. 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%.

South Hill Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

VA — Statewide

395

of 654 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Asbury Dennis, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Joseph Asbury Dennis, Jr. Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

0.4

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Asbury Dennis, Jr. is highlighted in May.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Asbury Dennis, Jr. was killed by shotgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518