ABOUT
IN MEMORIAM
Dedicated to the police officers who gave their lives unselfishly in the performance of their duties.
While the majority of the officers listed below died In the Line of Duty, some were killed providing security for the citizens of Memphis.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths of these officers is unknown at this time:
Sgt. W.C. Stockman – February 22, 1865
Officer John M. Claridge – April 24, 1867
Officer Walter M. Rodgers – June 4, 1867
Officer John M. Fenton – December 31, 1867
Officer John Gear – March 13, 1868
Captain Somers Perry – June 12, 1868
Sgt. D. J. Finch – March 8, 1869
Sgt. Julius Brett – – August 30, 1915
Officer Patrick T. Leahy – April 18, 1932
Officer John Cannon – June 10, 1939
Officer Eugene Scott – December 16, 1939
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Patrolman John Stevens | May 1, 1866
Died on May 1, 1866 after being shot in the thigh by a group of rioters at Third and Calhoun. -
Patrolman R.C. Parkinson | November 2, 1894
Died on November 2, 1894 after being shot by a purse-snatcher while patrolling downtown on foot.
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Patrolman E.L. Braodfoot | February 23, 1918
Shot February 23, 1918 at 546 South Main Street by three bootleggers. -
Patrolman A.L. White | April 13, 1919
Shot April 13, 1919 near Lamar Avenue and Deadrick Street while investigating a bicycle theft. -
Sgt J.C. Brinkley | June 13, 1919
Shot June 13, 1919 near Jackson Avenue and Waldran Road when investigating a suspected chicken theft. -
Patrolman Guy Saint | January 7, 1920
Shot January 7, 1920 at Vance and Lauderdale by drugstore burglars. -
Patrolman Vic Zambroni | March 23, 1920
Motorcycle accident March 23, 1920 at Court and Dunlap Streets to avoid striking a pedestrian.
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Patrolman James S. Holmes | September 21, 1920
Struck by a truck September 21, 1920 while directing traffic at Main and Gayoso Streets.
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Patrolman James J. McNeil |December 14, 1920
Motorcycle accident December 14, 1920 at Seventh and Auction while chasing a speeder.
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Lt Vincent Lucarini | August 10, 1921
Mistaken for a hold up man and shot by a posse in Collierville, Tennessee on August 10, 1921.
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Patrolman Polk A. Carraway | August 10, 1921
Shot August 10, 1921 by would-be robbers at 495 Union Avenue. -
Sgt. J.L. Bell | September 1, 1921
Stabbed September 1, 1921 in front of 217 East McLemore.
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Patrolman P.T. Fleet | November 3, 1921
Shot November 3, 1921 in railroad yards near Kansas and Carolina Streets. -
Patrolman James P. Wooten | February 21, 1922
Crushed between two street cars February 21, 1922 as he ran toward a disturbance near McLemore and Rayburn Streets.
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Patrolman Charles F. Stevens | August 4, 1923
Shot August 4, 1923 at 364 Vance as he attempted to arrest a murderer.
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Patrolman T.B. Knox | April 5, 1925
Shot April 5, 1925 at Fourth and Beale Streets while helping a citizen. -
Patrolman W.R. Bridges | April 20, 1929
Shot April 20, 1929 at Third and Beale Streets while arresting a drunk. -
Patrolman Walter H. McEwen | December 30, 1929
Shot December 30, 1929 at 512 Saint Martin apprehending an armed person. -
Patrolman C.J. Redder | October 22, 1931
Struck by a Fire Truck October 22, 1931 while directing traffic at Second Street and Union Avenue during a fire. -
Patrolman Roy A. Scott | February 20, 1936
Shot February 20, 1936 at 1409 Britton while arresting a robber. -
Patrolman George W. Ham | February 27, 1936
Accident at Walnut and Linden on February 27, 1936 while involved in a chase, struck by another car going through the intersection. -
Patrolman C.C. Musick | July 2, 1937
While riding his police motorcycle to work on July 2, 1937 he was struck by a DWI car at Poplar and Tillman. -
Patrolman James E. Walker | April 12, 1952
Killed April 12, 1952 when his motorcycle skidded on wet pavement and struck a tree on Parkway at Avalon. -
Patrolman Joseph Palazolla | November 30, 1959
Was struck by a City bus November 30, 1959 while directing traffic in front of Bellevue School. -
Patrolman Frank Bruno, Jr. | October 7, 1960
Shot October 7, 1960 while investigating a burglary at 639 East McLemore.
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Patrolman Morris E. White, Jr. | November 20, 1963
Killed in an automobile accident November 20, 1963 at Northwood Drive and Walnut Grove Road. -
Patrolman James E. Harper, Jr. | February 12, 1964
Killed in an accident February 12, 1964 when a car turned in front of him while chasing a speeder on Bellevue near Ledger. -
Patrolman Dennis J. Jobe | September 22, 1970
Killed September 22, 1970 in a motorcycle accident at Armour Station. -
Patrolman Michael D. Wright, Jr. | September 9, 1972
Killed September 9, 1972 in an automobile accident at Thomas and Watkins.
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Patrolman David W. Clark | May 21, 1973
Shot May 21, 1973 while attempting to arrest a man who had killed four people and wounded four others at Kansas and Ingle Streets. -
Patrolman Edward J. Hammond, Jr. | November 23, 1973
Shot November 23, 1973 at Chelsea and McNeil while attempting to arrest an armed person. -
Patrolman McCord L. Springfield | March 12, 1977
Shot March 12, 1977 at 1244 College while apprehending an armed person. -
Patrolman J.N. Bush, Jr. | December 29, 1978
Struck by a car December 29, 1978 while directing traffic on South Third Street at Mitchell Road.
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Patrolman James Lee Jefferson | August 18, 1979
A car struck his motorcycle August 18, 1979 on Elvis Presley Blvd. and Brooks Road. -
Lt. Clarence P. Cox | May 12, 1981
Shot May 12, 1981 in front of the Lauderdale Court Apartments while checking a suspicious person. -
Lt. Ronald D. Oliver | August 5, 1981
Shot August 5, 1981 in a holdup at Wendy’s at 3275 North Danny Thomas.
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Patrolman Larry P. Childress | January 14, 1982
Shot January 14, 1982 during the robbery of the residence at 5600 Shady Grove Road. -
Patrolman Charles L. Harrison | May 6, 1982
Killed May 6, 1982 when his motorcycle struck a car on Interstate 240 East of Airways. -
Police Trainee J.W. Sykes, Jr. | December 31, 1982
Shot December 31, 1982 by armed robbers as he approached their car. -
Patrolman Robert S. Hester | January 12, 1983
Beaten to death January 12, 1983 after being held hostage by a religious group at 2239 Shannon Street. -
Police Service Technician Booker T. Shaw, Jr. | December 17, 1985
Was struck by a tractor trailer December 17, 1985 while investigating an accident on Interstate 240 east of Millbranch. -
Patrolman John E. Reeve | September 9, 1991
Killed September 9, 1991 after he lost control of his squad car on slippery streets in route to an alarm call and hit a telephone pole. -
Major Rufus Gates | November 7, 1994
Was shot November 7, 1994 by a Uniform Police Officer who didn’t recognize him as being an Undercover Police Officer. -
Patrolman Dannael J. Weekes | Friday, March 7, 1997
Died Friday, March 7, 1997 from injuries sustained after the vehicle he was riding in struck another vehicle while in route to an Off-duty Police Officer Calling for Help Call. -
* Patrolman Don Williams | January 22, 1998
Died January 22, 1998 from injuries received when he was shot in the back of the head at point blank range while working an off-duty security job on December 26, 1997.
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Patrolman Don Overton | October 14, 1999
Died October 14, 1999 after his squad car was broadsided on Hollywood in North Memphis by a car occupied by four theft suspects fleeing police. -
Patrolman John Robinson | December 1, 1999
Died December 1, 1999 shortly after his cruiser crashed into several trees while attempting to apprehend two robbery suspects on New Allen Road.
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Patrolman Clayton Hicks, Jr. | November 14, 2000
Died November 14, 2000 from a gunshot wound he received while responding to an off-duty incident. -
Patrolman Anthony L. Woods | August 27, 2003
Died August 27, 2003 from gunshot wounds he received while responding to a domestic disturbance call in an apartment complex in the Parkway Village area of Memphis. -
Officer Marlon Titus | March 30, 2004
Died on March 30, 2004 at approximately 0145 hours after he was involved in a on-duty vehicle crash. -
Officer Timothy Warren | July 3, 2011
Died on July 3, 2011 from gunshot wounds he received while responding to a domestic disturbance call at a downtown hotel. -
Officer Martoiya Lang | December 14, 2012
Died on December 14, 2012 from gunshot wounds she received while executing a search warrant. -
Officer Sean Bolton | August 1, 2015.
Died on August 1, 2015. Police Officer II Sean Bolton was shot and killed when he interrupted a drug deal near the intersection of Cottonwood and Perkins Roads. -
Sergeant Verdell Smith | June 4, 2016
Died on June 4, 2016. Sergeant Verdell Smith was struck and killed by a vehicle whose driver had been involved in a triple shooting approximately 30 minutes earlier