Robert Fulton Giles
Agency patch
Trooper

Robert Fulton Giles

Virginia State Police — North Chesterfield, VA
Felonious
End of Watch July 23, 1954
Age 24
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Badge 561
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper Robert Giles was shot and killed as he and a police officer attempted to break up a fight between two men outside a cafe on U.S. 58-A in Coeburn, Wise County, Virginia. One of the subjects shot Trooper Giles with his own service weapon after it fell from its holster during the struggle. He was transported to Park Avenue Hospital, in Norton, where he died the following day. The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life.

Survivors

Trooper Giles was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtmxeb4dc7zpsys39v9wj
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Robert. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Giles gave the Virginia State Police 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Virginia. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Giles.

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

Agency

Type State Police
Location North Chesterfield, VA
Platform Identity vsp.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 23, 1954
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 24
Badge Number 561
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Robert is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1954, 76 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 92nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Robert was 24. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Robert had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Virginia State Police has 52 officers remembered here, Robert among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Trooper Robert Fulton Giles

Virginia State Police · End of Watch July 23, 1954

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 9-E

↑