Benjamin Harrington Butts
Agency patch
Sergeant

Benjamin Harrington Butts

Norfolk Police Department — Norfolk, VA
Felonious
End of Watch January 1, 1935
Age 48
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
The Vigil Panel 69 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Benjamin Butts was shot and killed by one of two men he and his partner had arrested after investigating the sound of shots in a dark alley on Mount Vernon Lane near Church Street (general area of modern-day Henry Street and Church Street). The suspect suddenly bolted from the officers, produced a pistol, and shot Sergeant Butts. He was apprehended several hours later. Sergeant Butts had served with the Norfolk Police Department for 11 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, and several siblings.

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.
Sergeant Butts gave the Norfolk Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Norfolk community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Butts.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Norfolk, VA
Platform Identity npd.norfolk.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 1, 1935
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 48
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

34,117 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 1935, 154 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 25th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Benjamin 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. Benjamin had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Norfolk Police Department has 39 officers remembered here, Benjamin among them.

VI

Where

Sergeant Benjamin Harrington Butts

Norfolk Police Department · End of Watch January 1, 1935

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 21-E

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