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Berke Morgan Matthew Bates
Agency patch
Trooper Pilot

Berke Morgan Matthew Bates

Virginia State Police — North Chesterfield, VA
Accident
United States flag Virginia flag
End of Watch August 12, 2017
Age 40
Tour of Duty 19 yrs
The Vigil Panel 167 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 51

Incident

Trooper Pilot Berke Bates and Lieutenant Pilot Jay Cullen were killed when their Bell 407 helicopter crashed into a wooded area in a residential neighborhood on Old Farm Road in Albemarle County, Virginia, at approximately 6:30 pm.

They were in the area to monitor civil unrest that was occurring in Charlottesville, Virginia, during a large protest. The helicopter had just taken off to monitor the Virginia governor's motorcade after he arrived in the area to assess the situation. The helicopter experienced some sort of issue before crashing into the trees and becoming engulfed in flames.

Trooper Bates and Lieutenant Cullen were killed in the crash.

Trooper Bates had served with the Virginia State Police for 13 years and was assigned to the Aviation Unit. He had previously served with the Florida Highway Patrol for six years. He is survived by his wife and his twin son and daughter. He was killed the day before his 41st birthday.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and his twin 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.
Trooper Pilot Bates gave the Virginia State Police 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Virginia. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Pilot Bates.

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

Agency

Department Virginia State Police
Type State Police
Location North Chesterfield, VA
Platform Identity vsp.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 12, 2017
Tour of Duty 19 yrs
Age 40
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

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

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 2017, 57 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 81st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Berke was 40. 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. Berke had served 19 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

August holds 9.5% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. 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.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Trooper Pilot Berke Morgan Matthew Bates

Virginia State Police · End of Watch August 12, 2017

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-E

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