Richmond Police Department, Virginia
End of Watch: Sunday, September 30, 1934
Age: 58
Tour of Duty: 28 years
Badge Number: 43
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 30, 1934
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Executed in 1935
Patrolman William Toot was shot and killed at the old city jail, below the Marshall Street Viaduct, when two inmates attempted to escape. The inmates had obtained two pistols that were concealed inside a baked turkey and attempted to shoot their way out.
The suspects, who were in jail for murdering a mail-driver, were captured in New York in January 1935. They were subsequently executed on February 2nd, 1935.
Police suspected that Anthony Cugino, member of the infamous Tri-state gang, responsible for several murders in the northeast, sent the turkey to the suspects who were members of the gang. On September 9th, 1935, Cugino was arrested in New York City. He confessed to the murder of Policeman Charles Stockberger of the Philadelphia Police Department on July 14th, 1933. That night he hanged himself in his jail cell. He was also the primary suspect in the murder of Policeman James Garvey of the New York City Police Department on April 21st, 1934.
Patrolman Toot had served with the Richmond Police Department for 28 years.