Virginia Beach Law Enforcement Memorial

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 17, 2021

1. Virginia Beach Law Enforcement Memorial

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The suspect fled the scene but was later arrested by a posse. On October 3, 1898, a Grand Jury recommended his case be tried, and on December 6, 1898, he was sentenced to death by hanging. Special Constable Beasley had only been sworn in hours before he was murdered. His wife and three children survived him.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 17, 2021

2. Virginia Beach Law Enforcement Memorial

A Fort Bragg, North Carolina Army Major, Vernon Mergler, witnessed the accident and followed the suspect for three blocks before bringing him back to the accident scene. The suspect was charged with Involuntary Homicide by the military police. He was charged with Hit & Run and manslaughter by the State police.

Officer Porteus was a veteran of World War II. He served in North Africa and the Naples, Anzio, Rome and Foggia campaigns in Italy during the war. He held the Purple Heart and the European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon.

"Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently."
-Maya Angelou

"Police Officers take risks and secure the safety of fellow citizens, and they endure such risks and tolerate such inconveniences on behalf of strangers. Consequently, police work is one of the more noble and selfless occupations in society. Making a difference in the quality of life is an opportunity that policing provides, and few other professions can offer."
-International Association of Chiefs of Police

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 17, 2021

3. Virginia Beach Law Enforcement Memorial

Special Officer Allen Gimbert risked his life to arrest and bring to justice moonshiners and bootleggers. He and his men were charged with finding and destroying illegal stills and arresting their operators. On May 3, 1923, Special Officer Allen Gimbert went on his last raid. He confronted a bootlegger, who drew a rifle and fatally shot Gimbert. Members of the Purity Squad returned fire, injuring the suspect. A five-day manhunt led to his capture. He was sentenced to a twenty-year prison term. Special Officer Gimbert was 44 years old, and was survived by his wife and four children.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 17, 2021

4. Virginia Beach Law Enforcement Memorial

Detective Monette was a Vietnam War veteran and had served Virginia Beach Police Department for two years. He was survived by his wife, 6-month-old daughter, and 2-year-old son.

Officer McClung was 32 years old and native of Roanoke, Virginia. He was a former member of the Norfolk Police Division, and had spent most of his life in the Norfolk and Virginia Beach area. He had joined the Virginia Beach Police Department on May 15, 1967.

The accident

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 17, 2021

5. Virginia Beach Law Enforcement Memorial

"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."
-Calvin Coolidge

"Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends out a tiny ripple of hope."
-Robert F. Kennedy

Sergeant Greene was taken to a local hospital and then transferred to the Salisbury,

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 17, 2021

6. Virginia Beach Law Enforcement Memorial

Sergeant Greene was a Vietnam War veteran and had returned from combat only four months before the incident. He was assigned to the 222nd Military Police Department. He had been in the military for one year.

He was survived by his parents, four brothers, and three sisters.

The suspect began to struggle with Officer Little and disarmed him. As the two continued to struggle the other officer fired two shots at the soldier, but struck Officer Little in the head, killing him. The suspect was arrested and charged with malicious assault and the officer who shot Officer Little was charged with manslaughter. Charges against the subject and the other officer

Officer Little had been appointed a special police officer for Princess Anne County to serve Seaview Beach only five weeks earlier, Seaview Beach Amusement Park and Beach was near Shore Drive and Great Neck Road, and closed when segregation ended.

He was survived by his wife, daughter and two sons, his parents, and 10 siblings.

"The police are the public and the public are the police; the police being the only members of the public who are paid to give full time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence."
-Sir Robert Peel

Officer Black was 28 years old and a native of Montreal Canada. He had obtained his United States Citizenship in 1973, and had joined the virginia Beach Police Department on August 1, 1973.

Detective Mobley was 36 years old and a native of Columbus, Georgia. He had a wife, a daughter, and a son when he died. He had joined the Virginia Beach Police Department on December 19, 1967. In 1977 he was selected Police Officer of the Year by the Virginia Beach Jaycees. He had also received a third place award from the Virginia State Jaycees as an Outstanding Young Law Enforcement Officer from Virginia that same year.

One of the greatest rewards of my career was the Virginia Beach Police Foundation asking me to design and produce this monument. It honors women and men who have fallen in the line of duty. However, the inspiration was developed over months of meetings and discussions with the dedicated members of The Foundation. Thus, it is a shared vision: Our Officers support each other in order to support our Community. Without the daily attention and support of these singularly dedicated men and women, all of us would fall.
Paul DiPasquale, sculptor

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Officer Maloney radioed for help reporting he had been shot. Several officers reached Officer Maloney within minutes and he was able to give a full description of the suspect vehicle and the driver who was now linked to the earlier assault and attempted rape.

Another officer observed the suspect vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. The driver jumped out and fired a shot at the officer, striking the windshield of his police vehicle. The officer returned fire, striking and killing the suspect. It was not until fingerprints were verified that it was learned that the suspect was an escaped felon who had been using his deceased nephew's identity.

Officer Maloney was 25 years old when he was killed. He had a wife who was 13 weeks pregnant with their first child. Officer Maloney held Associates and Bachelor's degrees and was working towards his Master's in Police Administration. He had joined the Virginia Beach Police Department in September, 1978.

Officer Maloney was the first City of Virginia Police officer to be shot and killed in the line of duty.

In valor there is hope
-Tacitus

Officer Starr had crossed over the westbound lanes and jumped the concrete median to reach the accident. A Ford Escort, being driven by a 19 year old, swerved around the crashed Honda Civic, struck Officer Starr and knocked him over 100 feet. The Escort then hit the taxi cab which then struck Annette Joy Compton, a citizen who had stopped her pickup truck to offer aid to the accident victims. Officer Starr and Annette Joy Compton were killed instantly.

Officer Starr was 24 years old and married when he was killed. He was a U.S. Navy Petty Officer assigned to a helicopter squadron stationed at Norfolk Naval Base. He graduated from the Virginia Beach Police Academy in 1991.

"It does not matter if the cobblers and masons fail to do their jobs well, but if the guardians fail, the democracy will crumble."
-Plato

During the traffic stop, the driver of the vehicle exited his vehicle with a handgun. There was an exchange of gunfire between the driver and the officer that resulted in both being fatally wounded. Unknown to Officer Pocceschi, a robbery had occurred just minutes prior at a nearby restaurant. The vehicle's passenger was arrested and charged in relation to the robbery. The suspect who shot Officer Pocceschi was involved in the robbery, was a six time convicted felon and was wanted for assaulting another police officer.

Officer Pocceschi was transported to the Trauma Center at Virginia Beach General Hospital where he died of multiple gunshot wounds at 4:05 a.m.

Officer Pocceschi, a Pennsylvania native, joined the Virginia Beach Police Department on August 2, 1999. He was survived by his wife and 9 month old son.

The Virginia Beach Police Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit whose mission is to assist families of fallen VBPD officers and the Virginia Beach Police Department, as well as maintain this memorial. Please visit www.vbpf.org to learn more about the Foundation and how you can ensure our success.

While Detective Phillips spoke with one suspect, a second suspect approached and shot Detective Phillips multiple times without warning. A team of support officers were able to quickly arrest both suspects. Detective Phillips died on the scene from multiple gunshot wounds.

Both men were charged with murder. One of the subjects pleaded guilty to murder in December 2010 and was sentenced to life in prison. The second suspect was convinced of murder in October 2011 and subsequently sentenced to 68 years in prison.

Detective Phillips had served with the Virginia Beach Police Department for six years and had previously served with the Hampton Police Department for three years and with the United States Air Force during Desert Storm. He is survived by his wife and two sons.

"Only a life lived for others, is a life worthwhile."
-Albert Einstein

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