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Every time an officer walks out the door, he or she realizes they may never see their loved ones again. They understand the dangers they face on the job every day, yet they live up to the oath they took to protect and serve the public. The
Virginia Police Defense Fund recognizes the bravery and sacrifices embodied by these public servants, and believe they deserve our gratitude and recognition. The officers listed below are just a few of the many who have paid the ultimate price for protecting our communities. We offer our thanks, our respect and our commitment to not only honor their memories, but also to continue to assist those they left behind. TOMMY F. BERNAL Dept: Fairfax County, Virginia, P.D City/State: Fairfax, VA DOI: 06/28/2001 DOD: 06/28/2001 Rank: Captain Age: 51 Service: 29 Years Children: 3 Circumstances: Motorcycle accident. Captain Bernal was participating in a motorcycle training exercise south of Front Royal, Virginia. While attempting to negotiate a curve, one of the trainees lost control of his department motorcycle in front of an oncoming sport-utility vehicle. The sport-utility vehicle avoided the trainees bike, but unfortunately struck Captain Bernal. Captain Bernal was flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. JAMES BENJAMIN GILBERT  Dept: Norfolk, Virginia, P.D City/State: Norfolk, VA DOI: 09/28/2001 DOD: 09/28/2001 SHOT Rank: Police Officer Weapon: HANDGUN Age: 28 Service: 4 Years Children: 1 Circumstances: Handling mentally deranged persons. Officer Gilbert and his partner responded to a call where a twenty-one year old Navy Seaman was threatening to commit suicide. When the officers arrived, the suspect opened fire on Officer Gilbert and his partner. Officer Gilbert was shot in the head and died instantly. His partner was able to return fire and kill the suspect. The suspect was intoxicated at the time of this incident. FRANKIE LYNN BETTERTON  Dept: Pittsylvania County, Virginia, S.O. City/State: Chatham, VA DOI: 05/17/2002 DOD: 05/17/2002 Rank: Deputy Sheriff Weapon: HANDGUN Age: 44 Service: 3 Years Children: 3 Circumstances: Feloniously killed during traffic stop or pursuit. Deputy Betterton was shot and killed after making a traffic stop on US Highway 58 near Danville, Virginia. The suspect and his girlfriend, who were traveling in separate vehicles, were arguing from their vehicles when Deputy Betterton arrived. The suspect’s girlfriend asked Deputy Betterton to issue a trespassing notice to her boyfriend. While questioning the suspect in his patrol car, Deputy Betterton was shot in the head. Deputy Betterton was pronounced dead at the scene. C MARK COSSLETT  Dept: Virginia State Police City/State: Richmond, VA DOI: 10/23/2002 DOD: 10/23/2002 Rank: Trooper Age: 40 Sex: M Service: 16 Years Children: 2 Circumstances: Disturbance call (barfights, persons with firearm, etc.). Trooper Cosslett was killed in a motorcycle accident while he responded to a shots fired call during the sniper attacks in the Washington, DC area. While traveling on the shoulder of I-95 south of I-495 in the Springfield area of Fairfax County, a tow truck suddenly veered onto the shoulder from the right lane. Trooper Cosslett was killed instantly as his motorcycle slammed into the back of the tow truck at full speed. ANDRE GERARD BOOKER  Dept: Henrico County, Virginia, P.D. City/State: Richmond, VA DOI: 01/12/2003 DOD: 01/12/2003 Rank: Police Officer Age: 26 Sex: M Service: 2 Years Children: 0 Circumstances: Automobile accident (related to criminal enforcement activity) Officer Booker was reversing his police car in an attempt to block a murder suspect who was fleeing the scene of a shooting incident. Officer Booker lost control of his patrol car which jumped on the curb, crashed through an iron fence and plunged into a 18-foot deep water retention pond. Officer Booker was trapped inside the vehicle and drowned despite the efforts of fellow officers to rescue him. SHEILA HERRING Dept: Norfolk, Virginia, P.D. City/State: Norfolk, VA DOI: 01/16/2003 DOD: 01/16/2003 Rank: Police Officer Weapon: HANDGUN Age: 39 Service: 8 Years Children: 1 Circumstances: Disturbance call (barfights, persons with firearm, etc.). Officer Herring was shot and killed after responding to a shooting call from a local bar. When officers arrived, they encountered several people outside of the bar. One of the men produced a handgun and opened fire on the officers. Officer Herring was wearing her bullet-proof vest but was struck three times in the abdomen below her vest. Officer Herring was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. MICHAEL TODD BLANTON Dept: Virginia State Police City/State: Richmond, VA DOI: 01/29/2003 DOD: 01/29/2003 Rank: Trooper Weapon: VEHICLE Age: 29 Service: 11 Years Children: 1 Circumstances: Feloniously killed during traffic stop or pursuit. Trooper Blanton was killed after stopping a DUI suspect. As Trooper Blanton reached for the suspect’s driver license, the suspect drove off, dragging Trooper Blanton along for several hundred yards before crashing. Trooper Blanton was trapped underneath the car. Trooper Blanton was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. SCOTT ALLEN HYLTON Dept: Christiansburg, Virginia, P.D. City/State: Christiansburg, VA DOI: 05/09/2003 DOD: 05/09/2003 Rank: Patrol Officer Weapon: HANDGUN Age: 43 Service: 20 Years Children: 4 Circumstances: Burglary in progress or pursuing burglary suspects. Officer Hylton was shot and killed after responding to a shoplifting call at a local convenience store. When Officer Hylton arrived at the scene, the suspect approached the patrol car and savagely attacked him. The suspect then removed Officer Hylton’s service weapon and shot him several times with his own gun. Officer Hylton was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The suspect was shot and killed RYAN EUGENE CAPPELLETTY Dept: Chesterfield County, Virginia, P.D. City/State: Chesterfield, VA DOI: 05/28/2003 DOD: 05/28/2003 Rank: Police Officer Weapon: HANDGUN Age: 23 Service: 10 Months Children: 0 Circumstances: Attempting other arrest (excludes burglary and robbery arrest). Officer Cappelletty and his partner responded to a shots fired call at a local residence. They encountered the armed suspect in the front yard. The suspect refused to surrender and opened fire. Although Officer Cappelletty was wearing body armor, the bullet struck the vest opening near his arm. Officer Cappelletty’s partner returned fire, killing the suspect. Officer Cappelletty was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. RODNEY FREDDERICK POCCESCHI Dept: Virginia Beach, Virginia, P.D. City/State: Virginia Beach, VA DOI: 06/23/2003 DOD: 06/23/2003 Rank: Police Officer Weapon: HANDGUN Age: 33 Service: 6 Years Children: 1 Circumstances: Feloniously killed during traffic stop or pursuit. Officer Pocceschi was shot and killed after he stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. The driver exited his vehicle and opened fire on Officer Pocceschi. Officer Pocceschi was able to return fire, fatally wounding the suspect. The suspect, a six time convicted felon, and the two occupants in the vehicle had just robbed a local restaurant and were fleeing the scene. Officer Pocceschi was pronounced dead at a local hospital. DOUGLAS EDWARD WENDEL  Dept: Richmond, Virginia, P.D. City/State: Richmond, VA DOI: 07/30/2003 DOD: 07/30/2003 Rank: Police Officer Weapon: HANDGUN Age: 41 Service: 6 Years Children: 3 Circumstances: Investigative activity (surveillance, searches, interviews, etc.). Officer Wendel was shot and killed after responding to a call involving drug activity. Officer Wendel was at 33rd Street and Midlothian Turnpike questioning a male suspect when a second male approached from behind and shot him in the head and neck. Officer Wendel was transported to MCV Hospital where he died one hour later. RODNEY LEE DAVIS Dept: Greene County, Virginia, S.O. City/State: Stanardsville, VA DOI: 08/26/2003 DOD: 08/26/2003 Rank: Sergeant Weapon: HANDGUN Age: 30 Service: 2.5 Years Children: 2 Circumstances: Drug-related matters (drug bust, buys, etc.). Sergeant Davis was shot and killed as he and Sergeant Joseph Hogsten attempted to serve a narcotics warrant on a man for selling crack cocaine. The two deputies were invited into the home where the suspect was hiding in the back bedroom. When Sergeant Davis kicked open the locked bedroom door, the suspect shot him several times. Sergeant Hogsten returned fire and killed the suspect. | ||||||||||||||
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