Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant James Bell succumbed to stab wounds sustained the previous day while chasing a suspect who had taken his gun. He was driving past the corner of McLemore Street and Third Avenue when he observed a male inside a cafe creating a disturbance. Sergeant Bell entered the cafe and placed the man under arrest. While attempting to take the suspect outside, another man grabbed his service weapon and ran outside. Sergeant Bell pursued the suspect to the corner of McLemore Avenue and Rayburn Boulevard in an attempt to get his gun back. While he was chasing the suspect, a third man grabbed Sergeant Bell from behind, cut his throat, and stabbed him several times. Sergeant Bell staggered across the street and fell to the ground. He was rushed to the hospital but died a few hours later on the operating table. Before he died, Sergeant Bell was able to identify the suspect who stabbed him in a photograph. All three suspects were apprehended within 12 hours and all were convicted of murder. Sergeant Bell served with the Memphis Police Department for 22 years.
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BO-US-TN-AA9347AA- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
22 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Bell gave the Memphis Police Department 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Memphis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Bell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant James Alonzo Bell 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 64.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Memphis Police Department, 53 of 94 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 56.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Alonzo Bell's cause is highlighted.
How James Alonzo Bell Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Alonzo Bell is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Alonzo Bell was killed by edged weapon.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
93 officers from Memphis Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
