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Incident
Officer Ashville Williamson was shot and killed during a riot that erupted after police attempted to arrest several sailors for disorderly conduct. The enlisted sailors had started a disturbance in a local theatre before moving through the downtown area, interrupting many businesses and citizens. Officer Williamson was shot near the intersection of Bank Street and Williams Street (the intersection no longer exists). Several other officers and sailors were wounded during the riot. Officer Williamson had served with the Norfolk Police Department for only one year.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, parents, two brothers, and two sisters.
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
You barely got started.
Officer Williamson gave the Norfolk Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Norfolk community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Williamson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Norfolk Police Department has lost 39 officers; 20 of them killed feloniously.
Ashville is one of 393 officers killed feloniously in VA, 60.2% of the 653 remembered there.
Ashville is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Ashville is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1918, 1 officer at Norfolk Police Department was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 19 years on record. The heaviest was 1943, with 2.
In 1918, 5 officers in VA were killed feloniously, the 18th heaviest of 136 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 10.
In 1918, 165 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1918, 169 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 24th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Ashville was 29. Of the 20 killed feloniously at Norfolk Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 28.8 and 39.3; the middle age was 35. Ashville had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 8.5 years.
Ashville was 29. Of the 364 killed feloniously in VA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 48; the middle age was 38. Ashville had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Ashville was 29. 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. Ashville had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Ashville was 29. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Ashville had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
October holds 10% of these deaths at Norfolk Police Department; May holds the most, 20%. Thursdays: 20%.
October holds 7.6% of these deaths in VA; December holds the most, 10.4%. Thursdays: 16.5%.
October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
October holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 51.3% of all 39 deaths at Norfolk Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 25% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 60.2% of all 653 deaths in VA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 14.2% of these deaths.
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.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Norfolk Police Department has 39 officers remembered here, Ashville among them.
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John McNerney
Sep 22, 1904
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Rufus A. Hobbs Jul 23, 1909
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Stonewall Jackson Taylor
Nov 13, 1917
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Ashville T. Williamson Oct 31, 1918
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Harvey J. Babb
Oct 21, 1919
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Harry Lankford Charlton Aug 24, 1920
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William Louis Sherrod
Sep 9, 1920
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Edward J. Vellines
Nov 5, 1924
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Joseph E. Johnson
Aug 11, 1930
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Allen E. Lindsay
Aug 21, 1934
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Benjamin Harrington Butts
Jan 1, 1935
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Jefferson Randolph Holland
Aug 17, 1937
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John Franklin Harmann
Mar 29, 1938
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Arthur Herbert Barrett
Apr 9, 1938
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Michael Aloisio
May 23, 1939
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Franklin Augustus Davis, Sr.
Jul 13, 1943
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Robert F. Dunn
Jul 13, 1943
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John Fulton Woods
Oct 4, 1946
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George Washington Perkins
Dec 12, 1946
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Daniel E. Hobbs
Apr 27, 1952
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Carlton James Byrd
Aug 25, 1952
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William Warren Lassiter
May 1, 1958
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Louis Edward Spry
Jul 26, 1958
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Robert Clifton Hill
Dec 9, 1959
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Benjamin Pope Myrick, Jr.
Feb 13, 1960
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Robert Courtland Wash
May 16, 1961
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William Peterson
Mar 17, 1962
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Robert J. Bouchard
Sep 3, 1971
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Lewis Willard Hurst, Jr.
May 24, 1972
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Stephen Samuel Douros
Jun 21, 1980
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John C. Thomas, III
Apr 4, 1984
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Douglas Eric Drye
Apr 14, 1984
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William Henry Burtt
Feb 3, 1998
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James B. Gilbert
Sep 28, 2001
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Sheila Herring
Jan 16, 2003
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Stanley Cornell Reaves
Oct 28, 2005
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Seneca Bailey Darden
May 21, 2006
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Brian Wayne Jones
May 30, 2014
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Maurice Joseph
Oct 9, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 14-W
Others Who Wore This Badge
38 officers from Norfolk Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
