Media Contact: Dana Schrad, VPSF Executive Director, Mobile: 804-338-9512, director@vpsf.org
Photo Gallery: https://photos.vachiefs.org/Virginia-Public-Safety-Foundation/2023-PS-Memorial-Ceremony
RICHMOND – On November 18, 2023, the Virginia Public Safety Foundation honored 30 fallen Virginia heroes in a ceremony for all public safety agencies and families of the public safety professionals being recognized. The guest of honor was the Honorable Terrance Cole, Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security. Our honorees (for Nov. 18) included:
17 firefighters
11 law enforcement officers
2 state correctional officers
The addition of these thirty honorees in 2023 brings the total number of heroes on the Memorial to 938.
2023 Fallen Heroes:
Charles Lemonte Adams, Harrisonburg Men's Community Corrections
Work Related Illness, 48 years old
(End Of Watch: 02/08/2022)
John Gregory “Greg” Blankenship, Virginia State Police
Work Related Illness, 61 years old
(EOW: 08/07/2021)
Benjamin Branch, Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office,
Killed in Line of Duty, 54 years old
Recognized as the first recorded police death in the nation
(Historical, EOW: 04/29/1786)
Gary Clark Campbell, Spotsylvania County Fire, Rescue & Emergency Management
Work Related Illness, 52 years old
(EOW: 01/20/2022)
Joseph Edward Carey, Sr., Brodnax Police Dept.
Killed in Line of Duty, 66 years old
(EOW: 12/16/2022)
Michael Dwayne Chandler, Big Stone Gap Police Dept.
Shot and Killed in Line of Duty, 29 years old
(EOW: 11/13/2021)
Frank L. Farmer, Jr., Richmond Dept. of Fire & EMS
Work Related Illness, 43 years old
(Historical, EOW: 5/28/1957)
Paul Grant Gatling, Norfolk Fire-Rescue
Fatal Injuries in line of duty, 40 years old
(Historical, EOW: 12/27/1928)
Christopher George Griffin, Norfolk Fire-Rescue
Work Related Illness, 50 years old
(EOW: 10/01/2021)
John Ross Laronda, Altavista Volunteer Fire Company
Fatal Injuries in the Line of Duty, 29 years old
(EOW: 6/6/2017)
Owen Lee Lewis, Jr., Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Dept.
Work Related Illness, 40 years old
(EOW: 5/23/2010)
William Henry Moore IV, Amelia County Volunteer Fire Dept.
Work Related Illness, 48 years old
(EOW: 6/14/2018)
Robert Wayne Nelms, Fries Volunteer Fire & Rescue,
Work Related Illness, 64 years old
(EOW: 10/16/2021)
Caleb Daniel Ogilvie, Covington Division of Police
Shot and Killed in Line of Duty, 35 years old
(EOW: 3/14/2022)
John Elwood Painter, Bridgewater College Campus Police & Safety
Shot and Killed in Line of Duty, 55 years old
(EOW: 2/1/2022)
George W. Pettey, Alexandria Fire Dept.
Work Related Illness, 69 years old
(Historical, EOW: 4/11/1911)
Lawrence Jeffrey “Jeff” Phipps, Sr., Hanover County Fire-EMS
Work Related Illness, 50 years old
(EOW: 7/18/2021)
Jeffrey Thomas Rizzo, Loudoun County Fire & Rescue
Work Related Illness, 44 years old (EOW: 7/8/2021) Kimberly Ann Schoppa, Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Dept.
Work Related Illness, 49 years old (EOW: 4/26/2022) James Anthony “Tony” Sisk, Culpeper County Sheriff's Office
Work Related Illness, 50 years old
(EOW: 10/1/2021)
Kenneth Wesley “Wes” Smith, Madison County Volunteer Fire Company
Work Related Illness, 47 years old
(EOW: 8/25/2019)
Javontae Keiland Spencer, Buckingham Correctional Center
Work Related Illness, 24 years old
(EOW: 2/23/2020)
Trey Marshall Sutton, Henrico County Police Division
Fatal Crash in Line of Duty, 24 years old
(EOW: 3/31/2022)
Robert Jacob “Jake” Thomas, Fieldale Volunteer Fire Company
Work Related Illness, 42 years old
(EOW: 9/5/2017)
Katherine Mary Thyne, Newport News Police Dept.
Killed in Line of Duty, 24 years old
(EOW: 01/23/2020)
Eddie Thomas Vick, Sussex Fire & Rescue
Work Related Illness, 61 years old
(EOW: 9/13/2018)
Mark Christopher “Chris” Wagner II, Wintergreen Police Dept.
Shot and Killed in Line of Duty, 31 years old
(EOW: 6/16/2023)
Herbert Tyler “Butch” Wilcox, Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Dept.
Work Related Illness, 77 years old
(EOW: 4/19/2018)
Dominic “Nick” Jared Winum, Stanley Police Dept.
Shot and Killed in Line of Duty, 48 years old
(EOW: 2/26/2021)
Charles C. Woods, Adwolfe Volunteer Fire Dept.
Work Related Illness, 58 years old (EOW: 9/23/2020)