Prev
Incident
Officer Seneca Darden was accidentally shot and killed by another officer after responding to the scene of a shooting on Nicholson Street at approximately 11:30 pm.
Officer Darden and his partner were working a plainclothes burglary detail nearby and responded to the location after additional units were requested to search for the suspect in the public housing development.
A large group of residents had gathered in the courtyard as the officers searched for the suspect. Officer Darden and two uniformed officers were taking a man into custody at gunpoint when another officer approached and observed Officer Darden holding his service weapon. Not recognizing Officer Darden, the officer ordered him to drop the weapon. The officer then fired his weapon, striking Officer Darden several times.
The suspect involved in the original shooting was apprehended a short time later.
Officer Darden had served with the Norfolk Police Department for four years and was assigned to the 3rd Precinct.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and 5-year-old daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtpa2bm9wg9j39s3fk33w- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Seneca. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Darden gave the Norfolk Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Norfolk community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Darden.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Norfolk Police Department has lost 39 officers; 17 of them lost to accidents.
Seneca is one of 203 officers lost to accidents in VA, 31.1% of the 653 remembered there.
Seneca is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Seneca is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2006, 1 officer at Norfolk Police Department was lost to accidents, the 3rd heaviest of 15 years on record. The heaviest was 1946, with 2.
In 2006, 4 officers in VA were lost to accidents, the 4th heaviest of 99 years on record. The heaviest was 1870, with 10.
In 2006, 68 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 54th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2006, 80 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 57th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Seneca was 25. Of the 17 lost to accidents at Norfolk Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 43; the middle age was 31. Seneca had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 10 years.
Seneca was 25. Of the 192 lost to accidents in VA whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 45; the middle age was 36. Seneca had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Seneca was 25. 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. Seneca had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Seneca was 25. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Seneca had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 11.8% of these deaths at Norfolk Police Department; August holds the most, 23.5%. Sundays: 11.8%.
May holds 6.4% of these deaths in VA; December holds the most, 12.8%. Sundays: 12.3%.
May holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Sundays: 14%.
May holds 8.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 43.6% of all 39 deaths at Norfolk 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 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Norfolk Police Department has 39 officers remembered here, Seneca among them.
-
John McNerney
Sep 22, 1904
-
Rufus A. Hobbs Jul 23, 1909
-
Stonewall Jackson Taylor
Nov 13, 1917
-
Ashville T. Williamson Oct 31, 1918
-
Harvey J. Babb
Oct 21, 1919
-
Harry Lankford Charlton Aug 24, 1920
-
William Louis Sherrod
Sep 9, 1920
-
Edward J. Vellines
Nov 5, 1924
-
Joseph E. Johnson
Aug 11, 1930
-
Allen E. Lindsay
Aug 21, 1934
-
Benjamin Harrington Butts
Jan 1, 1935
-
Jefferson Randolph Holland
Aug 17, 1937
-
John Franklin Harmann
Mar 29, 1938
-
Arthur Herbert Barrett
Apr 9, 1938
-
Michael Aloisio
May 23, 1939
-
Franklin Augustus Davis, Sr.
Jul 13, 1943
-
Robert F. Dunn
Jul 13, 1943
-
John Fulton Woods
Oct 4, 1946
-
George Washington Perkins
Dec 12, 1946
-
Daniel E. Hobbs
Apr 27, 1952
-
Carlton James Byrd
Aug 25, 1952
-
William Warren Lassiter
May 1, 1958
-
Louis Edward Spry
Jul 26, 1958
-
Robert Clifton Hill
Dec 9, 1959
-
Benjamin Pope Myrick, Jr.
Feb 13, 1960
-
Robert Courtland Wash
May 16, 1961
-
William Peterson
Mar 17, 1962
-
Robert J. Bouchard
Sep 3, 1971
-
Lewis Willard Hurst, Jr.
May 24, 1972
-
Stephen Samuel Douros
Jun 21, 1980
-
John C. Thomas, III
Apr 4, 1984
-
Douglas Eric Drye
Apr 14, 1984
-
William Henry Burtt
Feb 3, 1998
-
James B. Gilbert
Sep 28, 2001
-
Sheila Herring
Jan 16, 2003
-
Stanley Cornell Reaves
Oct 28, 2005
-
Seneca Bailey Darden
May 21, 2006
-
Brian Wayne Jones
May 30, 2014
-
Maurice Joseph
Oct 9, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 26-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
38 officers from Norfolk Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
