Fleet Martin Underwood
Agency patch
Patrolman

Fleet Martin Underwood

Dunn Police Department — Dunn, NC
Felonious
End of Watch February 12, 1940
Age 45
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 76 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Fleet Underwood succumbed to injuries sustained the previous night when he was attacked by a mob.

He and his partner had responded to a disturbance at the Greasy Spoon Cafe. While placing an intoxicated suspect under arrest the crowd surrounded the officers and attacked them. Patrolman Underwood was struck in the back of the head with a blunt object. His partner recovered from minor injuries. Three days after the incident the cafe burned to the ground.

Three men were arrested and charged with murder. Two were convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 8 to 12 years in prison. Both were paroled in 1943.

Patrolman Underwood had served with the Dunn Police Department for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-607B1B64
Stewardship
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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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Underwood gave the Dunn Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Dunn community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Underwood.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Dunn, Harnett County, NC
Platform Identity dpd.harnett.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 12, 1940
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 45
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Assault
Weapon Blunt object

Patrolman Fleet Martin Underwood is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 58 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Dunn Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
NC — Statewide
385
of 664 officers
58% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Fleet Martin Underwood's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Fleet Martin Underwood Compares

Age at Death
45
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Fleet Martin Underwood is highlighted in Feb.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Fleet Martin Underwood was killed by blunt object.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Dunn Police Department are honored on badge.nw.