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Patrolman

John M. Arnold

Nashville City Police Department — Nashville, TN
Felonious
United States flag Tennessee flag
End of Watch February 12, 1885
Age 55
The Vigil Panel 23 · Column 2 · Line 12 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 21

Incident

Patrolman Arnold was shot and mortally wounded while attempting to arrest a well-known desperado and ex-con. He developed blood poisoning and died five weeks later. The suspect was charged with murder and released after posting bond. Seven months later during his trial he shot and killed a witness who was going to testify against him. He went into hiding and was shot and killed a year later by a man in Hickman County.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

141 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Arnold served with the Nashville City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Nashville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Nashville City Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Nashville, Davidson County, TN
Platform Identity npd.davidson.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 12, 1885
Age 55
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John 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.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1885, 62 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 121st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 55. 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.

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%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Nashville City Police Department has 22 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years

Patrolman John M. Arnold

Nashville City Police Department · End of Watch February 12, 1885

Where the Name Is Cut

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