On this
date, April 12, 1985, Trooper Leo Whitt was shot and killed by Gregory W. Beaver in Virginia. Let us
honor this fallen corrections officer and thank God, that justice was served,
as the Cop Killer was executed on December 3, 1996.
25 years later after watching Gregory W. Beaver put to death, Angela Kyle, the daughter of Trooper Leo Whitt felt that the death penalty had helped her to move on.
Trooper
Leo Whitt (End of Watch: April 12, 1985)
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[PHOTO
SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/VirginiaStatePolice/photos/a.305071080100/10158253010345101/?type=3] |
Trooper Leo Whitt
Virginia State Police, Virginia
End of Watch: Friday,
April 12, 1985
Bio
Age: 48
Tour: 20 years
Badge: 751
Incident Details
Cause: Gunfire
Weapon: Gun; Unknown type
Offender: Executed in 1996
Trooper Leo Whitt was shot and killed during a traffic stop on I-95 in Prince George County, approximately 10 miles south of Petersburg. The shooting occurred at approximately 9:45 pm.
The suspect had escaped from a Maryland prison-type drug treatment facility
earlier that day. He had been committed to the facility after being convicted
of 10 felony convictions. He stole a car and then drove to his stepfather's
restaurant, where he assaulted and robbed him. He then proceeded down I-95
heading towards Florida, picking up a hitchhiker.
Shortly thereafter he was pulled over for a routine traffic stop by Trooper
Whitt. The suspect shot Trooper Whitt twice, once in the neck and then between
the eyes. He later bragged to his companion that he got away with killing a
police officer.
The suspect was apprehended and convicted of Trooper Whitt's murder. He was
executed in 1996.
Trooper Whitt had served with the Virginia State Police for over 20 years. He
is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
INTERNET SOURCE: https://www.odmp.org/officer/14123-trooper-leo-whitt
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If the death penalty was
not imposed then "wrong really has finally totally triumphed over right
and all civilised society, all we hold dear, is the loser." - John
Stevens, Baron Stevens of Kirkwhelpington
Bridge dedicated to fallen trooper
Staff Writer
The Progress-Index PRINCE GEORGE - Whenever a driver is traveling on Interstate 95 from now on, they'll be reminded of the memory of Virginia State Trooper Leo Whitt, who died 29 years ago,
The Johns Road/Route 667 bridge near Sussex County on I-95 has now been dedicated as the Trooper Leo Whitt Memorial Bridge thanks to the combined efforts of the Prince George Board of Supervisors and the approval of Commonwealth Transportation Safety Board.
"This bridge will be a lasting testament to Leo Whitt and his service," said Col. W. Steven Flaherty, superintendent of Virginia State Police. "All who travel up and down Interstate 95 will know his name and they will understand his sacrifice. He won't be just a Virginia trooper that was statistic, they will know what he stood for."
On Friday morning members of the Virginia State Police, County Board of Supervisors, the Virginia Department of Transportation, Tri-City officials and members of Whitt's family gathered for the dedication ceremony for Whitt.
"We chose the Johns Road Bridge to honor Trooper Whitt because it is close to the location where he was murdered," said William Robertson, chairman of the county Board of Supervisors.
Trooper Whitt was shot and killed on the evening of April 12, 1985, during a traffic stop on I-95 north near Sussex County. A press release by state police said that after an extensive search that spanned into Henrico County, police found and apprehended Gregory W. Beaver Jr., 20, at the time. He was charged with capital murder and executed by lethal injection on Dec. 3, 1996.
Retired Master Trooper C.W. "Charlie" Weaver worked in Dinwiddie when Whitt was a trooper in Prince George. He was sent to Whitt's home the night he was murdered to tend to the family.
"The memory of that night shall never depart from me," Weaver said.
Since then, his family and the family of Whitt have grown very close. He said aside from it being the area where he was murdered, there was also a symbolic reason as to why the location, and bridge for that matter, were chosen.
"I want to say that Leo and all the other police officers of whatever uniform you wear, whatever community you serve, you are a bridge between good and evil, between light and darkness," Weaver said.
Whitt was survived by his wife and two children, all of whom were at the memorial service. His daughter Angela Kyle described how he would want to know where she was at all times. He was really big on punctuality and simply doing the right thing all of the time.
"That's what I really remember about him. He did the right thing and didn't take the easy way out," Kyle said.
Remembering Whitt and keeping him in the memory of the county was the main theme of the day. All of the speakers touched on how important it was to remember Trooper Whitt's sacrifice. They all also said that this bridge will definitely serve to help keep Whitt's memory alive.
"We won't say that Leo Whitt was a Virginia State Police trooper because he is a Virginia State Police trooper," Flaherty said. "He will be forever missed, but he will never, ever be forgotten."
- Amir Vera may be reached at avera@progress-index.com or 804-722-5155.
INTERNET SOURCE: https://www.progress-index.com/story/news/2014/07/19/bridge-dedicated-to-fallen-trooper/36490780007/
Trooper
Leo Whitt (End of Watch: April 12, 1985)
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[PHOTO
SOURCE: https://gunmemorial.org/1985/04/12/trooper-leo-whitt] |
Angela Kyle, whose father, Virginia State Trooper Leo Whitt, was killed during a traffic stop south of Petersburg in 1985, told the lawmakers she “can’t begin to tell you what it has been like for 36 years not to have my dad, and not to have my family know my dad, and the amazing gap that’s been left without him.” Her father’s killer, Gregory Beaver, was arrested the night of the slaying, and quickly confessed. When he was put to death in 1996, she told lawmakers, “an amazing load went off, and my nightmares stopped.” https://www.pilotonline.com/news/crime/dp-nw-virginia-death-penalty-20210131-gs3b423zcjchddnfzpmfgxuoea-story.html
Senators also heard from multiple family members of fallen officers on this point. Angela Kyle said the execution of her dad’s murderer gave her peace of mind.
“An amazing load went off my shoulders, my nightmares stopped,” Kyle said.
Widow Michelle Dermyer called the effort to end the death penalty a slap in the face.
“Eliminating the death penalty cheapens murder. An executed death sentence absolutely guarantees the killer will never kill again,” she said.
INTERNET SOURCE: https://www.wjhl.com/news/regional/virginia/faith-leaders-are-backing-a-bill-to-abolish-the-death-penalty-in-virginia/
You killed a person and
you are put in prison for life? The one you killed is not in jail but he is
dead." - Yoweri Museveni
RELATED LINKS:
https://murderpedia.org/male.B/b1/beaver-gregory.htm
https://www.officer.com/on-the-street/news/11584673/bridge-dedicated-to-fallen-va-state-trooper
OTHER LINKS:
