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William A. Toot
Agency patch
Patrolman

William A. Toot

Richmond Police Department — Richmond, VA
Felonious
United States flag Virginia flag
End of Watch September 30, 1934
Age 58
Tour of Duty 28 yrs
Badge 43
The Vigil Panel 68 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 39

Incident

Patrolman William Toot was shot and killed at the old city jail, below the Marshall Street Viaduct, when two inmates attempted to escape. The inmates had obtained two pistols that were concealed inside a baked turkey and attempted to shoot their way out. The suspects, who were in jail for murdering a mail-driver, were captured in New York in January 1935. They were subsequently executed on February 2nd, 1935. Police suspected that Anthony Cugino, member of the infamous Tri-state gang, responsible for several murders in the northeast, sent the turkey to the suspects who were members of the gang. On September 9th, 1935, Cugino was arrested in New York City. He confessed to the murder of Policeman Charles Stockberger of the Philadelphia Police Department on July 14th, 1933. That night he hanged himself in his jail cell. He was also the primary suspect in the murder of Policeman James Garvey of the New York City Police Department on April 21st, 1934. Patrolman Toot had served with the Richmond Police Department for 28 years.

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August 2, 2026

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Tributes

28 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Toot gave the Richmond Police Department 28 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Toot.

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

Agency

Department Richmond Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Richmond, VA
Platform Identity rpd.richmond.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 30, 1934
Tour of Duty 28 yrs
Age 58
Badge Number 43
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1934, 178 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 16th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 58. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. William had served 28 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Richmond Police Department has 40 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman William A. Toot

Richmond Police Department · End of Watch September 30, 1934

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 31-E

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