Incident
Private Whitfield Lipscombe was killed in a vehicle crash when the fire truck on which he was riding, Engine No. 2, crashed into a truck and overturned on the Washington-Richmond Highway, 300 yards from the Arlington County line. During the response a truck pulled in front of the fire engine, causing a collision, and forcing the fire engine into a ditch. Private Lipscombe, who had been at the fire station when the call came in and was riding on the back, was thrown to the ground and killed. The three firefighters in the truck were injured. Private Lipscombe had served with the Alexandria Police Department for one year.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents, three sisters, and a brother.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Private Lipscombe gave the Alexandria Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Alexandria community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Private Lipscombe.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Alexandria Police Department has lost 17 officers; 2 of them lost to accidents.
Whitfield is one of 203 officers lost to accidents in VA, 31.1% of the 653 remembered there.
Whitfield is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Whitfield is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1930, 3 officers in VA were lost to accidents, the 12th heaviest of 99 years on record. The heaviest was 1870, with 10.
In 1930, 113 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 3rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1930, 131 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
Who
Whitfield was 22. Of the 192 lost to accidents in VA whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 45; the middle age was 36. Whitfield had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Whitfield was 22. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Whitfield had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Whitfield was 22. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Whitfield had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
September holds 8.9% of these deaths in VA; December holds the most, 12.8%. Thursdays: 13.8%.
September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Thursdays: 14%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 11.8% of all 17 deaths at Alexandria Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 31.1% of all 653 deaths in VA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Alexandria Police Department has 17 officers remembered here, Whitfield among them.
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Elijah Chenault Aug 4, 1823
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Gerrard Arnold Sep 9, 1827
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Julian F. Arnold
May 15, 1887
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George W. Crump Dec 28, 1893
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Walker W. Campbell
Feb 16, 1919
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Elton B. Hummer
Aug 18, 1928
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Charles R. McClary
Jun 20, 1929
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Whitfield W. Lipscombe
Sep 4, 1930
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August Perault Pierce
Sep 7, 1930
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Clarence J. McClary
Mar 17, 1935
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Robert B. Harris
Sep 11, 1948
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Bobby G. Padgett
Feb 4, 1959
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James W. Baber
Oct 19, 1962
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Eugene Yoakum
Sep 27, 1964
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Conrad Lee Birney
Dec 27, 1972
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Charles William Hill
Mar 22, 1989
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Morton Ford
Jun 18, 2011
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 18-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
16 officers from Alexandria Police Department are honored on badge.nw.












