Roll of Honor

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Park Policeman

William Wallace Calder

Richmond Park Police Department — Richmond, VA

Accident

End of Watch December 4, 1935

Age 41

The Vigil Panel 70 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Park Policeman W. Wallace Calder succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous night in Byrd Park when his pistol fell from its holster and discharged.

He was attempting to place a jack under his patrol car to fix a flat tire when the incident occurred. He was found in the 500 block of S Davis Avenue by two Richmond police officers after he walked several blocks trying to find help. The officers took him to the Retreat for the Sick where he succumbed to his wounds the following day.

Policeman Calder was survived by his wife, sister, and three brothers.

Survivors

Policeman Calder was survived by his wife, sister, and three brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-CA67927B
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.
Park Policeman Calder served with the Richmond Park Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Park Policeman Calder.

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

Agency

Department Richmond Park Police Department

Location Richmond, VA

Platform Identity rppd.richmond.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 4, 1935

Age 41

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Cause Detail Gunfire (Inadvertent)

Park Policeman William Wallace Calder 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.

Richmond Park Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Accident

VA — Statewide

203

of 654 officers

31% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Wallace Calder'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 William Wallace Calder Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Accident: 38.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. William Wallace Calder is highlighted in Dec.

Jan

820

Feb

730

Mar

748

Apr

707

May

847

Jun

795

Jul

897

Aug

937

Sep

913

Oct

925

Nov

872

Dec

897