Roll of Honor

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Officer

Jesse Edward Mills

Greenville Police Department — Greenville, NC

Felonious

End of Watch August 16, 1952

Age 50

The Vigil Panel 88 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 2

Incident

Officer Mills was shot and killed when he surprised two burglars inside of a laundry and dry cleaning business. Two U.S. Marines, ages 19 and 20, were arrested and charged with his murder 10 days later. Both men were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on October 15, 1952. One was paroled in January of 1970 and the other suspect was paroled in April of 1984.

Survivors

Officer Mills is survived by two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NC-C9A3AB46
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Mills served with the Greenville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Greenville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Mills.

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

Agency

Department Greenville Police Department

Location Greenville, NC

Platform Identity gpd.pitt.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 16, 1952

Age 50

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Paroled in 1970 and 1984

Officer Jesse Edward Mills is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Greenville Police Department, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Greenville Police Department

of 3 officers

33.3% Felonious

NC — Statewide

385

of 664 officers

58% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jesse Edward Mills's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Jesse Edward Mills Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Paroled in 1970 and 1984

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jesse Edward Mills is highlighted in Aug.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jesse Edward Mills was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Greenville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.