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William Burtt

Case from Norfolk, VA dated Feb 03, 1998

Victim Details

William Henry Burtt

Male

Black / African American

Norfolk

VA

1998-02-03

40

William

Burtt

07/14/2026

Case Description

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In an act of selfless courage, 40-year-old Norfolk Police Officer William Henry Burtt was shot and killed on February 3, 1998, while attempting to protect a woman from her estranged husband. The male officer, a nine-year veteran of the force, was off duty at the time of the fatal encounter in Virginia Beach. He had befriended the woman, who worked in his patrol district, and was helping her run errands.

The situation escalated when the woman's estranged husband appeared and tried to kidna ...
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Links to Additional Sources (6)

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  • Police Officer William Henry Burtt, Norfolk Police Department, Virginia
  • Reflections for Police Officer William Henry Burtt, Norfolk Police ...
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    Forum Posts (2)

    It's been nearly 25 years since Officer William Henry Burtt's sacrifice, and it still resonates prof... ...Read More
    09/19/2023
    I’ve been thinking about the community’s response to Officer Burtt’s tragedy in Virginia Beach... ...Read More
    01/11/2023
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