Delbert Junior Roush, Sr.

Charleston Police Dept. — Charleston, WV

Felonious

End of Watch June 26, 1981

Age 61

Tour of Duty 33 yrs

The Vigil Panel 124 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 8

Incident

Lieutenant Roush and Patrolman Eddie Duncan were shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop on U.S. 60, near I-64, at approximately 3:00 am. Lieutenant Roush was on his lunch break and had gone to backup Patrolman Duncan when the shooting occurred. The suspect was apprehended, convicted of murder, and received two life sentences. Lieutenant Roush had served with the Charleston Police Department for 33 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, and three sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WV-0394DB60
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

33 years. You could have gone home.
Lieutenant Roush gave the Charleston Police Department 33 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Charleston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Roush.

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

Agency

Department Charleston Police Dept.

Location Charleston, WV

Platform Identity charpd.kanawha.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 26, 1981

Tour of Duty 33 yrs

Age 61

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to life

Lieutenant Delbert Junior Roush, Sr. 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Charleston Police Dept., 6 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Charleston Police Dept.

of 9 officers

66.7% Felonious

WV — Statewide

169

of 232 officers

72.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious