Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Frank Gilbert suffered a fatal heart attack after being involved in a foot pursuit of a shoplifter at Crossroads Mall at approximately 3:30 pm.
He was inside the J.C. Penney store when he observed a female conceal an item and leave the store without paying for it. When he attempted to stop her outside of the store, the woman fled across Williamson Road. He was able to apprehend the woman and was met by a store employee who offered to drive them back to the store.
Deputy Gilbert collapsed inside the car. The employee called for an ambulance, but Deputy Gilbert died before arriving at the hospital.
Deputy Gilbert was survived by his wife and children.
Survivors
Deputy Gilbert was survived by his wife and children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-A1ED1B92- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Gilbert served with the Roanoke County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Salem community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Gilbert.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William Frank Gilbert is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In VA, 25 of 654 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 3.8% of this state's fallen.
At Roanoke County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 3 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Frank Gilbert's cause is highlighted.
How William Frank Gilbert Compares
Offender Outcome
Arrested
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. William Frank Gilbert is highlighted in Dec.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Roanoke County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
