Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff William Truesdale was shot and killed with his own weapon while transporting prisoners from ane extradition hearing back to the old city jail at the intersection of Princess Street and North Street. The prisoner, whose left hand was manacled to a second prisoner, used his free right arm to grab Deputy Truesdale's service revolver as they walked up the stairs to the jail. The prisoner then shot his handcuff off and attempted to flee but was apprehended several blocks away. He was facing an extradition hearing to North Carolina on murder and robbery charges. The man was sentenced to death in April 1981 and executed on October 17th, 1990. Deputy Truesdale had served with the Alexandria Sheriff's Office for eight years. He was survived by his wife and four children. His youngest son, who was only six months old at the time of his murder, was sworn in as a deputy with the Alexandria Sheriff's Office on June 27th, 2012.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-F3519B6B- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Truesdale served with the Alexandria Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Alexandria community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Truesdale.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William Gene Truesdale 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Gene Truesdale's cause is highlighted.
How William Gene Truesdale Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Gene Truesdale is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Gene Truesdale was killed by officer's handgun.