Larry Douglas Bland
Agency patch
Police Officer

Larry Douglas Bland

Newport News Police Department — Newport News, VA
Felonious
End of Watch May 13, 1994
Age 48
Tour of Duty 17 yrs
The Vigil Panel 140 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Bland was shot and killed while making a traffic stop on Smucker Road near Mechville Road. He had placed the suspect in the back of his patrol car. As he was writing a ticket, the man shot him in the back of the head through an opening in the patrol car's cage. The suspect kicked out one of the rear windows of the car and fled on foot. The suspect was arrested after a two hour manhunt. The man was convicted of Officer Bland's murder and sentenced to life in prison. Officer Bland's body was found by his wife, who was also an officer with the Newport News Police Department. Officer Bland had previously served as an auxiliary officer for the Hampton Police Department, Gloucester County Sheriff's Office, and Newport News Police Department.

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 Bland gave the Newport News Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Newport News community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Bland.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Newport News, VA
Platform Identity nnpd.newportnews.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 13, 1994
Tour of Duty 17 yrs
Age 48
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Larry is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

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

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1994, 93 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 59th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Larry was 48. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Larry had served 17 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Newport News Police Department has 12 officers remembered here, Larry among them.

VI

Where

Police Officer Larry Douglas Bland

Newport News Police Department · End of Watch May 13, 1994

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 24-E

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