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Incident
Officer Robert Williams succumbed to injuries from an automobile accident the previous day. Officer Williams' patrol car experienced a mechanical failure, causing it to collide with another vehicle on Trinity Lane and flip over. He was transported to General Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Officer Williams Was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Metro Nashville Police Department for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his daughter.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Robert is one person.
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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.
Officer Williams gave the Metro Nashville Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Nashville 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Robert L. Williams served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
Metro Nashville Police Department has lost 20 officers; 7 of them lost to accidents.
Robert is one of 191 officers lost to accidents in TN, 24.8% of the 769 remembered there.
Robert is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Robert is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1968, 1 officer at Metro Nashville Police Department was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1968, 2 officers in TN were lost to accidents, the 25th heaviest of 99 years on record. The heaviest was 2000, with 6.
In 1968, 100 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 6th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1968, 117 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 5th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Robert was 35. Of the 7 lost to accidents at Metro Nashville Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 30.5 and 37.5; the middle age was 35. Robert had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Robert was 35. Of the 183 lost to accidents in TN whose age is recorded, half were between 30.5 and 49; the middle age was 38. Robert had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Robert was 35. 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. Robert had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Robert was 35. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Robert had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 42.9% of these deaths at Metro Nashville Police Department, more than any other month. Thursdays: 42.9%.
May holds 11% of these deaths in TN; September holds the most, 11.5%. Thursdays: 11.5%.
May holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
May holds 8.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 35% of all 20 deaths at Metro Nashville Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 24.8% of all 769 deaths in TN, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Metro Nashville Police Department has 20 officers remembered here, Robert among them.
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Lonnie L. Harper
Aug 10, 1963
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Charles Reuben Byrd
Sep 26, 1963
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Carroll Gordon Bargatze
Oct 16, 1965
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Thomas E. Johnson
Jan 16, 1968
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Charles W. Thomasson
Mar 17, 1968
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Robert L. Williams
May 2, 1968
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Raymond Leroy Wheeler
Nov 6, 1973
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Curtis Jordan
Jan 13, 1976
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George Howard Hall
Feb 23, 1976
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Steven Ross Pinkelton
Jul 26, 1978
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Edward L. Tarkington
Dec 17, 1978
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John Wesley Smith, III
May 14, 1980
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William Lee Bowlin
Aug 4, 1982
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James Ronnie Woodard, Sr.
Oct 9, 1991
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Francis Paul Scurry
May 17, 1996
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Candace Renee Ripp
Dec 8, 2001
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Christy Jo Dedman
Jul 19, 2004
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Michael Alexander Petrina
May 10, 2014
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Eric Wayne Mumaw
Feb 2, 2017
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John Ralph Anderson, IV
Jul 4, 2019
Where
Military Service
Robert L. Williams served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit Robert L. Williams’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 55-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
19 officers from Metro Nashville Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
