Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Thadeus E. Davis succumbed to an accidental gunshot wound sustained earlier when his gun fell from his pocket and discharged; the round striking him in the hip.
He had just arrested a man wanted for murder in Isle of Wight County and was walking him to the jail when the accident occurred.
He was transported to St. Vincent's Hospital in Norfolk, where he succumbed to the wound two days later.
Chief Davis was a member of the Smithfield military company.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-E80D5675- 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.
Chief of Police Davis served with the Smithfield Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Smithfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Davis.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Thadeus E. Davis 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thadeus E. Davis's cause is highlighted.
How Thadeus E. Davis Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Thadeus E. Davis is highlighted in May.