Hugh Clark May
Agency patch
Patrolman

Hugh Clark May

Chattanooga Police Department — Chattanooga, TN
Accident
End of Watch September 15, 1906
Age 57
Tour of Duty 19 yrs
Badge 4
The Vigil Panel 21 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Hugh May was killed when the horse-drawn wagon he was transporting prisoners in was struck by a train on Cowart Street in Chattanooga. The railroad crossing watchman waved him across, and as he was crossing, an engine that was backing up struck him, causing serious injuries. The engineer and watchman then refused to move the train, which was blocking the only route to the hospital. Both were arrested and charged with murder in connection with Patrolman May's death. Patrolman May had been with the Chattanooga Police Department for 19 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and ten children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman May gave the Chattanooga Police Department 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chattanooga community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman May.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Chattanooga, Hamilton County, TN
Platform Identity cpd.hamilton.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 15, 1906
Tour of Duty 19 yrs
Age 57
Badge Number 4
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Hugh is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1906, 27 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 118th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Hugh was 57. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Hugh had served 19 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Saturdays: 14.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Chattanooga Police Department has 27 officers remembered here, Hugh among them.

VI

Where

Patrolman Hugh Clark May

Chattanooga Police Department · End of Watch September 15, 1906

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 47-W

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