Bernard Walter Wright
Agency patch
Trooper

Bernard Walter Wright

Virginia State Police — North Chesterfield, VA
Accident
End of Watch January 17, 1976
Age 39
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Badge 708
The Vigil Panel 116 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper Bernard Wright was killed in an automobile crash during a pursuit of a speeder on Route 696 in Halifax County. Trooper Wright lost control of his patrol car and overturned. Trooper Wright had served with the Virginia State Police for 15 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three daughters, one brother, one sister, and his parents.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
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.
Trooper Wright gave the Virginia State Police 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Virginia. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Wright.

— 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 January 17, 1976
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Age 39
Badge Number 708
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Weapon Automobile

The Sacrifice · Accident

Bernard is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 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 1976, 59 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 76th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Bernard was 39. 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. Bernard had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

January holds 7.7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Saturdays: 14.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 6.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Trooper Bernard Walter Wright

Virginia State Police · End of Watch January 17, 1976

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 1-E

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