William Peterson

Norfolk Police Dept. — Norfolk, VA

Accident

End of Watch March 17, 1962

Age 25

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 97 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 38

Incident

Officer William Peterson was struck and killed by a drunk driver while assisting in the execution of a warrant at 9 p.m. While walking on the service road in the 6500 block of Virginia Beach Boulevard towards another patrol car, Officer Peterson was hit and knocked into a ditch. He was transported to Norfolk Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries an hour later. The driver was arrested and pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and drunken driving. Officer Peterson had served with the Norfolk Police Department for two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, foster parents, and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-B7EDA8FB
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 Peterson 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 Peterson.

— 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 March 17, 1962

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 25

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Guilty of involuntary manslaughter

Officer William Peterson is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In VA, 203 of 654 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31% of this state's fallen.

At Norfolk Police Dept., 17 of 39 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 43.6% of this agency's fallen.

Norfolk Police Dept.

of 39 officers

43.6% Accident

VA — Statewide

203

of 654 officers

31% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers