Robert J. Bouchard

Norfolk Police Dept. — Norfolk, VA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch September 3, 1971

Age 39

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

The Vigil Panel 109 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 38

Incident

Sergeant Robert Bouchard was shot and killed by a robbery suspect while conducting a stakeout behind a group of buildings at the corner of Princess Anne Road and Colonial Avenue. The juvenile offender was apprehended and convicted of Sergeant Bouchard's murder. The suspect was sentenced to death in 1972, but his sentence was commuted to life in prison when capital punishment was ruled temporarily unconstitutional nationwide. The suspect was released after serving only 14 years. Sergeant Bouchard was a United States Navy veteran. He had served with the Norfolk Police Department for 18 years and was assigned to the Special Services Unit.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-C2662F49
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.
Sergeant Bouchard gave the Norfolk Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Norfolk 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 Norfolk Police Dept.

Location Norfolk, VA

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

Service Record

End of Watch September 3, 1971

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender plainclothes

Military Service

Robert J. Bouchard served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Sergeant Robert J. Bouchard 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