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Douglas Edward Wendel
Agency patch
Police Officer

Douglas Edward Wendel

Richmond Police Department — Richmond, VA
Felonious
United States flag Virginia flag
End of Watch July 30, 2003
Age 41
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 336 · Column 4 · Line 11 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 39

Incident

Police Officer Doug Wendel was shot and killed after responding to a call involving a suspected drug dealer on East 33rd Street, near Midlothian Turnpike, in the city's southside at 5:23 pm.

Officer Wendel approached one of the suspects and asked him for identification. The subject began fighting with Officer Wendel and fired four shots in quick succession, shooting him in the neck, back of the head, and shoulder.

Officers responded to the scene when they received a 911 call of an officer shot at 5:27 pm. Officer Wendel was transported to MCV Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The suspect was captured several days later and charged with capital murder. The suspect was convicted of first-degree and capital murder on December 10th, 2003, and was subsequently sentenced to life in prison with no parole.

Officer Wendel had served with the Richmond Police Department for five years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, two young sons, a young daughter, brother, and his parents.

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.
Police Officer Wendel gave the Richmond Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Wendel.

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

Agency

Department Richmond Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Richmond, VA
Platform Identity rpd.richmond.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 30, 2003
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 41
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; Revolver

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Douglas 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.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 2003, 64 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 117th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Douglas was 41. 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. Douglas had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

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; revolver, in 0.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Richmond Police Department has 40 officers remembered here, Douglas among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Douglas Edward Wendel

Richmond Police Department · End of Watch July 30, 2003

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 44-E

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