Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Seneca Darden was accidentally shot and killed by another officer after responding to the scene of a shooting on Nicholson Street at approximately 11:30 pm.
Officer Darden and his partner were working a plainclothes burglary detail nearby and responded to the location after additional units were requested to search for the suspect in the public housing development.
A large group of residents had gathered in the courtyard as the officers searched for the suspect. Officer Darden and two uniformed officers were taking a man into custody at gunpoint when another officer approached and observed Officer Darden holding his service weapon. Not recognizing Officer Darden, the officer ordered him to drop the weapon. The officer then fired his weapon, striking Officer Darden several times.
The suspect involved in the original shooting was apprehended a short time later.
Officer Darden had served with the Norfolk Police Department for four years and was assigned to the 3rd Precinct.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and 5-year-old daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-F7A35308- 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.
Police Officer Darden gave the Norfolk Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Norfolk community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Darden.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Seneca Bailey Darden 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.
At Norfolk Police Dept., 17 of 39 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 43.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Seneca Bailey Darden's cause is highlighted.
How Seneca Bailey Darden Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Seneca Bailey Darden is highlighted in May.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
38 officers from Norfolk Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
