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Robert Courtland Wash
Agency patch
Detective

Robert Courtland Wash

Norfolk Police Department — Norfolk, VA
Felonious
United States flag Virginia flag
End of Watch May 16, 1961
Age 49
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
The Vigil Panel 212 · Column 1 · Line 21 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 38

Incident

Detective Robert Wash was shot and killed by a man he suspected might be about to commit a burglary in the 100 block of E 39th Street. He and his partner stopped to check out the suspicious man standing by a number of phones at a drug store. The subject started to run and Detective Wash's partner tried to apprehend him. The man pulled out a gun and shot the officer as Detective Wash grabbed him and threw him toward the drug store wall. The man dropped to the ground and fired two shots at Detective Wash, fatally wounding him. His partner was wounded but was able to hold the subject in a leg lock until other officers arrived. The man was found to have burglary tools on him and was getting ready to break into the drug store. The officers were shot with a stolen Smith and Weston five-shot .32-caliber handgun. The man was convicted of murder and executed in November 1961. Detective Wash had served with the Norfolk Police Department for 16 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Wash gave the Norfolk Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Norfolk community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Wash.

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

Agency

Department Norfolk Police Department
Type Other
Location Norfolk, VA
Platform Identity npd.norfolk.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 16, 1961
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Age 49
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon 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.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1961, 69 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 104th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Robert was 49. 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 16 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Norfolk Police Department has 39 officers remembered here, Robert among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Robert Courtland Wash

Norfolk Police Department · End of Watch May 16, 1961

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 20-E

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