Constable

Elijah Chenault

Alexandria Police Department — Alexandria, VA
Felonious
End of Watch August 4, 1823
Age 48
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
The Vigil Panel 1 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Constable Elijah Chenault was killed when he was struck over the head with a stick while attempting to seize property from a woman who had failed to pay a debt.

A struggle ensued, during which the woman struck him over the head, causing a fatal wound.

The subject was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to one year in jail and fined $85. The fine was later dismissed by President James Monroe after she served her jail term.

Constable Chenault had served as a constable for Alexandria off and on for over 25 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and several children.

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

203 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Constable Chenault gave the Alexandria Police Department 25 years.
Thank you for your service to the Alexandria community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Alexandria, VA
Platform Identity apd.alexandria.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 4, 1823
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
Age 48
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Blunt object

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Elijah 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 1823, 2 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 190th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Elijah 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. Elijah had served 25 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 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

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 blunt object, in 1.2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Alexandria Police Department has 17 officers remembered here, Elijah among them.

Constable Elijah Chenault

Alexandria Police Department · End of Watch August 4, 1823

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 10-W

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