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Chief of Police

Matthew W. Murphy

Columbus Police Department — Columbus, GA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch December 26, 1874

Age 32

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 15 · Column 2 · Line 8 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Military Memorials 1 Also Remembered Department 25

Incident

Chief Matthew Murphy was shot and killed as he and several Columbus police officers attempted to arrest two brothers on Crawford Street near the Springer Opera House for using obscene language. As the officers talked with the two, one of the men suddenly pulled a gun but was disarmed by one of the officers. The gun was handed to Chief Murphy but the man suddenly pulled a second gun from his coat. Chief Murphy and the man both fired at the same time and Chief Murphy was struck in the chest. The chief's shot missed the suspect. The other officers fired at the fleeing suspects, striking the shooter in the back. The two were arrested and the wounded suspect died a short time later. The remaining suspect was later hanged for his involvement in the incident. At the time of the incident the Columbus Police Department did not have an acting chief. Chief Murphy, who had also served in the Confederate Army, was a marshal for the Muscogee County Marshal's Office. That office was responsible for overseeing the operations of the police department, and Chief Murphy was assigned as the City Marshal for Columbus.

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Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Chief of Police Murphy gave the Columbus Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Columbus Police Department

Type Other

Location Columbus, Muscogee County, GA

Platform Identity cpd.muscogee.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 26, 1874

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Matthew W. Murphy served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Matthew is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1874, 34 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 151st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Matthew was 32. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Matthew had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded