Rochester Police Department, New York
End of Watch: Thursday, November 17, 1932
Age:
Tour of Duty: 18 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: November 17, 1932
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Detective Victor Woodhead was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect wanted for robbing the Rochester Chamber of Commerce.
He and another detective, along with two employees of the Chamber of Commerce, had been waiting in a hotel to positively identify the suspect.
When the suspect came down from his room the detectives started to follow him. The suspect walked to a garage on Stillson Street and got into a car. Detective Woodhead attempted to talk to him but the man suddenly exited the car and opened fire, mortally wounding him.
The man was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. On March 1st, 1952, his sentence was commuted to 35 years to life with eligibility for parole in 1958.
Detective Woodhead was survived by his wife, daughter, two brothers, and sister.