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Incident
Special Officer Louis Shaw was killed when the patrol car he was sitting in was struck from behind on the Richmond Highway (modern day Route 1).
Officer Shaw and another officer were transporting a prisoner from the Alexandria police station back to the Arlington County Jail, when they stopped at the scene of an accident in Alexandria, just south of Four Mile Run Creek. The prisoner had been arrested for stealing a car from an Arlington County restaurant earlier in the morning. He had been pursued by a Fairfax County Sheriff's deputy and crashed into a fence at Potomac Yards railroad depot at 0350 hours. The man was taken to the Alexandria police department by the deputy. Arlington County Police were then notified and Officer Shaw and the other officer were sent to pick up the prisoner.
By the time they passed the original accident scene on the way back to Arlington County, at approximately 0500 hours, a wrecker was attempting to recover the stolen car. The officers stopped and Officer Shaw's partner began directing traffic around the activity, while Officer Shaw remained in the car with the prisoner. The other officer had waved several cars passed the scene when a Shell Oil Company truck approached. The driver of the truck did not see the officer waving his flashlight or hear him yelling to stop. The truck struck the back of the patrol car at approximately 30 mph, throwing it 75-feet into a telephone pole. The police car's gas tank ruptured on impact and the car was engulfed in flames.
Witnesses at the scene of the accident tried to free Officer Shaw and the prisoner, but the flames were too hot and they were unable to reach the car. The flames were so hot that the bullets in Officer Shaw's revolver discharged. Both Officer Shaw and the prisoner burned to death in the car.
The driver of the Shell Company truck was arrested and charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. On March 27, 1936, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision and the trial was declared a mistrial. The Commonwealth's attorney dropped all charges and the driver was freed.
Officer Shaw had been appointed as a Special Officer on May 11, 1935. He was single at the time of his death. He was buried in Smith's Chapel Cemetery in Dranesville, Virginia.
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- September 9, 2026
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Officer Shaw served with the Arlington County Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Arlington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Shaw.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Arlington County Police Department has lost 8 officers; 2 of them lost to accidents.
Louis is one of 203 officers lost to accidents in VA, 31.1% of the 653 remembered there.
Louis is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Louis 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 1935, 3 officers in VA were lost to accidents, the 12th heaviest of 99 years on record. The heaviest was 1870, with 10.
In 1935, 99 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 8th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1935, 107 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 9th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Louis was 28. Of the 192 lost to accidents in VA whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 45; the middle age was 36. Louis had served 0.6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Louis was 28. 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. Louis had served 0.6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Louis was 28. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Louis had served 0.6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 12.8% of these deaths in VA, more than any other month. Fridays: 16.7%.
December holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Fridays: 15.1%.
December holds 8.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Fridays: 15%.
How
Accident deaths account for 25% of all 8 deaths at Arlington County 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
Arlington County Police Department has 8 officers remembered here, Louis among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 38-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Arlington County Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
