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Alexandria Remembers First Black Police Officer Albert Augustine Beverly

By James Cullum

Alexandria Police are remembering one of their own. Albert Augustine Beverly, the first-ever Black police officer in Alexandria, died this time last year on Feb. 21, 2020.

The 78-year-old Beverly was born in King George’s County on August 23, 1941. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, he joined the Alexandria Police Department in 1965. He continued his law enforcement career at the Naval Surface Warfare Center.

Beverly, who was informally known as Al, is survived by his children Gracie Beverly, Reuben Beverly and Joseph Tompkins; granddaughter, Mikayla Feather; and two siblings, Lucy Beverly-Johnson (Al) and William Beverly (Urline). He was buried at Quantico National Cemetery.

Photo via Alexandria Police/Twitter

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.