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Sergeant

W. C. Stockham

Memphis Police Department — Memphis, TN

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch February 22, 1865

Age 24

Tour of Duty 5 mo

The Vigil Panel 9 · Column 4 · Line 11 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Also Remembered Department 93

Incident

Sergeant W.C. Stockham was shot and killed by a suspect he was attempting to arrest a disorderly suspect near the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Third Street.

Two patrolmen went to an apartment building after several residents complained about a drunk and disorderly resident. When they arrived the suspect exited his apartment and fought with them. The suspect then pulled a pistol and fired, missing both officers, before fleeing back into his apartment.

The patrolmen called for reinforcements, and Sergeant Stockham arrived with two other officers. The officers again attempted to arrest the suspect and during the struggle the suspect fired again, killing Sergeant Stockham. The other officers continued to struggle with the suspect, shooting him once in the elbow before they were able to subdue him. The suspect was arrested and charged with murder.

Sergeant Stockham was a Union Army veteran and had served with the Memphis Police department for five months.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: September 9, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. W. 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.
Sergeant Stockham served with the Memphis Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Memphis 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 Memphis Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Memphis, Shelby County, TN

Platform Identity mpd.shelby.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 22, 1865

Tour of Duty 5 mo

Age 24

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Pistol

Military Service

W. C. Stockham served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

W. 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 1865, 15 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 165th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

W. was 24. 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. W. had served 0.4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

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; pistol, in 0.6% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded