| Officer Ray Gallimore End of Watch November 30, 1974 |
Ray Pierce Gallimore was originally a native of Galax, Virginia, but had
lived in Chesapeake for approximately eighteen years. He attended
Great Bridge High School where he graduated on June 9, 1950.
Ray Gallimore was married to Virginia Deer Gallimore having two step
children with Virginia, Katie Jo Seidman and Rebecca Ann Seidman.
They resided at 412 Rock Creek Drive. Ray Gallimore had been
previously married to Marilyn Lee Pike for 18 years and together had
two children, Kenneth Ray and Vickie Sue.
Prior to his appointment as a police officer, Ray Gallimore held
various interesting positions throughout the local community
receiving four letters of commendations and was highly respected by
his friends, neighbors and fellow officers.
Officer Gallimore was appointed as a Chesapeake Police Officer on
December 16, 1967. He graduated from the Tidewater Police
Academy and the Central Police Training School.
Shortly after 1:00 PM on November 30, 1974, while on patrol in the
Deep Creek section of Chesapeake, Officer Gallimore came upon a
minor, single motor vehicle accident at the intersection of George
Washington Highway and Wildwood Road.
Officer Gallimore signed off with the dispatcher and exited his police
vehicle to investigate the accident. As he spoke to the driver of the
accident vehicle, the driver suddenly jumped from the vehicle and
pulled a gun on Officer Gallimore. A struggle ensued and the suspect
gained control of Officer Gallimore's service weapon.
The suspect abducted Officer Gallimore at gun point, forcing Officer
Gallimore into the police vehicle. The suspect used the police
vehicle to head into the city of Portsmouth. Citizens who had
observed the incident notified the police.
At the intersection of Jefferson Street and Atlanta Avenue in the city
of Portsmouth, Officer Gallimore attempted to wrestle the gun away
from the suspect. The suspect then shot Officer Gallimore in the
head, killing him instantly.
The suspect left the police car, commandeered another vehicle,
placing that vehicle's driver in the trunk, and drove away.
Approximately fifteen minutes later, the suspect was cornered at
High Street and 27th Street in the city of Portsmouth. When faced
with apprehension by the Police, the suspect turned the weapon on
himself and shot himself in the head, dying instantly.
The suspect was a five-term convict who was out on the work release
program.
Officer Gallimore was the first Chesapeake Police Officer killed in the
line of duty since the city's incorporation in 1963.