Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer J. C. Parks was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man for threatening his wife with a pistol. The victim's son had notified Officer Parks of the disturbance and brought him to the residence.
As Officer Parks reached the house the man began to pull out the pistol. Officer Parks reached out to grab the gun, but the man fired, striking Officer Parks in the abdomen. Despite being seriously wounded, the two struggled for a short time, until the suspect was subdued by others.
The suspect was acquitted of Officer Parks' murder the following month under the premise that Officer Parks did not have a warrant to arrest him.
Officer Parks had served with the Danville Police Department for three years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-DD6C86D1- 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
143 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Parks gave the Danville Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Danville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer J. C. Parks 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 Danville Police Department, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. J. C. Parks's cause is highlighted.
How J. C. Parks Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. J. C. Parks is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. J. C. Parks was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Danville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
